Luke 23
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
Luke chapter 23 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
3 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine.
Luke 23
1Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.Καὶ ἀναστὰν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος αὐτῶν, ἤγαγον αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸν Πιλᾶτον.
2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this Man perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”Ἤρξαντο δὲ κατηγορεῖν αὐτοῦ, λέγοντες, Τοῦτον εὕρομεν διαστρέφοντα τὸ ἔθνος, καὶ κωλύοντα Καίσαρι φόρους διδόναι, λέγοντα ἑαυτὸν Χριστὸν βασιλέα εἶναι.
3Then Pilate questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “You are saying what is so.”Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτόν, λέγων, Σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων; Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷ ἔφη, Σὺ λέγεις.
4But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this Man.”Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος εἶπε πρὸς τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ τοὺς ὄχλους, Οὐδὲν εὑρίσκω αἴτιον ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τούτῳ.
5But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to here.”Οἱ δὲ ἐπίσχυον, λέγοντες ὅτι Ἀνασείει τὸν λαόν, διδάσκων καθ᾽ ὅλης τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἕως ὧδε.
6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.Πιλᾶτος δὲ ἀκούσας Γαλιλαίαν ἐπηρώτησεν εἰ ὁ ἄνθρωπος Γαλιλαῖός ἐστι.
7And when he found out that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days.Καὶ ἐπιγνοὺς ὅτι ἐκ τῆς ἐξουσίας Ἡρῴδου ἐστίν, ἀνέπεμψεν αὐτὸν πρὸς Ἡρῴδην, ὄντα καὶ αὐτὸν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐν ταύταις ταῖς ἡμέραις.
8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he was hoping to see some miracle done by Him.Ὁ δὲ Ἡρῴδης ἰδὼν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐχάρη λίαν· ἦν γὰρ θέλων ἐξ ἱκανοῦ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν, διὰ τὸ ἀκούειν πολλὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἤλπιζέ τι σημεῖον ἰδεῖν ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ γινόμενον.
9Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.Ἐπηρώτα δὲ αὐτὸν ἐν λόγοις ἱκανοῖς· αὐτὸς δὲ οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίνατο αὐτῷ.
10And the chief priests and scribes stood, vehemently accusing Him.Εἱστήκεισαν δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς, εὐτόνως κατηγοροῦντες αὐτοῦ.
11Then Herod, with his men of war, having treated Him with contempt, and having mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.Ἐξουθενήσας δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ Ἡρῴδης σὺν τοῖς στρατεύμασιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐμπαίξας, περιβαλὼν αὐτὸν ἐσθῆτα λαμπράν, ἀνέπεμψεν αὐτὸν τῷ Πιλάτῳ.
12That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.Ἐγένοντο δὲ φίλοι ὅ τε Πιλᾶτος καὶ ὁ Ἡρῴδης ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ μετ᾽ ἀλλήλων· προϋπῆρχον γὰρ ἐν ἔχθρᾳ ὄντες πρὸς ἑαυτούς.
13And Pilate, having called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,Πιλᾶτος δὲ συγκαλεσάμενος τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ τὸν λαόν,
14said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, on the charge of misleading the people. And indeed, when I examined Him in your presence, I found no guilt in this Man in the matters which you bring as charges against Him;εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς, Προσηνέγκατέ μοι τὸν ἄνθρωπον τοῦτον, ὡς ἀποστρέφοντα τὸν λαόν· καὶ ἰδού, ἐγὼ ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν ἀνακρίνας οὐδὲν εὗρον ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τούτῳ αἴτιον ὧν κατηγορεῖτε κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ·
15and neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing worthy of death has been done by Him.ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ Ἡρῴδης· ἀνέπεμψα γὰρ ὑμᾶς πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ ἰδού, οὐδὲν ἄξιον θανάτου ἐστὶ πεπραγμένον αὐτῷ.
16Therefore when I have flogged Him, I will release Him.”Παιδεύσας οὖν αὐτὸν ἀπολύσω.
17(For it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast.)Ἀνάγκην δὲ εἶχεν ἀπολύειν αὐτοῖς κατὰ ἑορτὴν ἕνα.
18But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—Ἀνέκραξαν δὲ παμπληθεί, λέγοντες, Αἶρε τοῦτον, ἀπόλυσον δὲ ἡμῖν Βαραββᾶν·
19who because of a certain insurrection having occurred in the city had been thrown into prison, and for murder.ὅστις ἦν διὰ στάσιν τινὰ γενομένην ἐν τῇ πόλει καὶ φόνον βεβλημένος εἰς φυλακήν.
20Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.Πάλιν οὖν ὁ Πιλᾶτος προσεφώνησε, θέλων ἀπολῦσαι τὸν Ἰησοῦν.
21But they cried out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!”Οἱ δὲ ἐπεφώνουν, λέγοντες, Σταύρωσον, σταύρωσον αὐτόν.
22Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no guilt deserving death in Him. Therefore when I have flogged Him, I will release Him.”Ὁ δὲ τρίτον εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς, Τί γὰρ κακὸν ἐποίησεν οὗτος; Οὐδὲν αἴτιον θανάτου εὗρον ἐν αὐτῷ· παιδεύσας οὖν αὐτὸν ἀπολύσω.
23But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices and those of the chief priests prevailed.Οἱ δὲ ἐπέκειντο φωναῖς μεγάλαις, αἰτούμενοι αὐτὸν σταυρωθῆναι· καὶ κατίσχυον αἱ φωναὶ αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἀρχιερέων.
24So Pilate decided that their request should be carried out.Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐπέκρινε γενέσθαι τὸ αἴτημα αὐτῶν.
25And he released whom they were requesting, who because of insurrection and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.Ἀπέλυσε δὲ τὸν διὰ στάσιν καὶ φόνον βεβλημένον εἰς τὴν φυλακήν, ὃν ᾐτοῦντο· τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν παρέδωκε τῷ θελήματι αὐτῶν.
26And as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, as he was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might carry it behind Jesus.Καὶ ὡς ἀπήγαγον αὐτόν, ἐπιλαβόμενοι Σίμωνός τινος Κυρηναίου ἐρχομένου ἀπ᾽ ἀγροῦ, ἐπέθηκαν αὐτῷ τὸν σταυρόν, φέρειν ὄπισθεν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ.
27And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also were mourning and lamenting Him.Ἠκολούθει δὲ αὐτῷ πολὺ πλῆθος τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ γυναικῶν αἳ καὶ ἐκόπτοντο καὶ ἐθρήνουν αὐτόν.
28But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.Στραφεὶς δὲ πρὸς αὐτὰς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπε, Θυγατέρες Ἱερουσαλήμ, μὴ κλαίετε ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ, πλὴν ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτὰς κλαίετε καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν.
29For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs which did not give birth, and breasts which did not nurse!’Ὅτι ἰδού, ἔρχονται ἡμέραι ἐν αἷς ἐροῦσι, Μακάριαι αἱ στεῖραι, καὶ κοιλίαι αἳ οὐκ ἐγέννησαν, καὶ μαστοὶ οἳ οὐκ ἐθήλασαν.
30Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’Τότε ἄρξονται λέγειν τοῖς ὄρεσι, Πέσετε ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς· καὶ τοῖς βουνοῖς, Καλύψατε ἡμᾶς.
31For if they do these things in the green tree, what will happen in the dry?”Ὅτι εἰ ἐν τῷ ὑγρῷ ξύλῳ ταῦτα ποιοῦσιν, ἐν τῷ ξηρῷ τί γένηται;
32And they also were leading two others with Him, evildoers, to be put to death.Ἤγοντο δὲ καὶ ἕτεροι δύο κακοῦργοι σὺν αὐτῷ ἀναιρεθῆναι.
33And when they came to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him and the evildoers, one on the right, and one on the left.Καὶ ὅτε ἀπῆλθον ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον τὸν καλούμενον Κρανίον, ἐκεῖ ἐσταύρωσαν αὐτόν, καὶ τοὺς κακούργους, ὃν μὲν ἐκ δεξιῶν, ὃν δὲ ἐξ ἀριστερῶν.
34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And dividing His garments, they cast lots.Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἔλεγε, Πάτερ, ἄφες αὐτοῖς· οὐ γὰρ οἴδασι τί ποιοῦσι. Διαμεριζόμενοι δὲ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, ἔβαλον κλῆρον.
35And the people stood, watching. And the rulers with them also were sneering, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the elect of God.”Καὶ εἱστήκει ὁ λαὸς θεωρῶν. Ἐξεμυκτήριζον δὲ καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες σὺν αὐτοῖς, λέγοντες, Ἄλλους ἔσωσε, σωσάτω ἑαυτόν, εἰ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός, ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκλεκτός.
36The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,Ἐνέπαιζον δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ οἱ στρατιῶται, προσερχόμενοι καὶ ὄξος προσφέροντες αὐτῷ,
37and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”καὶ λέγοντες, Εἰ σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων, σῶσον σεαυτόν.
38And an inscription also was written over Him, in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.Ἦν δὲ καὶ ἐπιγραφὴ γεγραμμένη ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ γράμμασιν Ἑλληνικοῖς καὶ Ῥωμαϊκοῖς καὶ Ἑβραϊκοῖς, Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων.
39Then one of the evildoers who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”Εἷς δὲ τῶν κρεμασθέντων κακούργων ἐβλασφήμει αὐτόν, λέγων, Εἰ σὺ εἶ ὁ Χριστός, σῶσον σεαυτὸν καὶ ἡμᾶς.
40But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἕτερος ἐπετίμα αὐτῷ, λέγων, Οὐδὲ φοβῇ σὺ τὸν Θεόν, ὅτι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ κρίματι εἶ;
41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man did nothing wrong.”Καὶ ἡμεῖς μὲν δικαίως, ἄξια γὰρ ὧν ἐπράξαμεν ἀπολαμβάνομεν· οὗτος δὲ οὐδὲν ἄτοπον ἔπραξε.
42Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.”Καὶ ἔλεγε τῷ Ἰησοῦ, Μνήσθητί μου, Κύριε, ὅταν ἔλθῃς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου.
43And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, σήμερον μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ.
44Now it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour.Ἦν δὲ ὡσεὶ ὥρα ἕκτη, καὶ σκότος ἐγένετο ἐφ᾽ ὅλην τὴν γῆν ἕως ὥρας ἐνάτης.
45Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.Καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ὁ ἥλιος, καὶ ἐσχίσθη τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ μέσον.
46And Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I will commit My spirit.’ ” And after He said these things, He breathed His last.Καὶ φωνήσας φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπε, Πάτερ, εἰς χεῖράς σου παραθήσομαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου· καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἐξέπνευσεν.
47And when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος τὸ γενόμενον, ἐδόξασε τὸν Θεόν, λέγων, Ὄντως ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος δίκαιος ἦν.
48And all the crowds which came together for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, beat their own chests and returned.Καὶ πάντες οἱ συμπαραγενόμενοι ὄχλοι ἐπὶ τὴν θεωρίαν ταύτην, θεωροῦντες τὰ γενόμενα, τύπτοντες ἑαυτῶν τὰ στήθη ὑπέστρεφον.
49But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.Εἱστήκεισαν δὲ πάντες οἱ γνωστοὶ αὐτοῦ μακρόθεν, καὶ γυναῖκες αἱ συνακολουθήσασαι αὐτῷ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, ὁρῶσαι ταῦτα.
50And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and righteous manΚαὶ ἰδού, ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι Ἰωσήφ, βουλευτὴς ὑπάρχων, ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ δίκαιος—
51(this man had not agreed to their decision and deed), from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.οὗτος οὐκ ἦν συγκατατεθειμένος τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῇ πράξει αὐτῶν—ἀπὸ Ἀριμαθαίας πόλεως τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ὃς καὶ προσεδέχετο καὶ αὐτὸς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ·
52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.οὗτος προσελθὼν τῷ Πιλάτῳ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ.
53And having taken it down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth, and put it in a tomb cut out of rock, where no one had ever lain before.Καὶ καθελὼν αὐτὸ ἐνετύλιξεν αὐτὸ σινδόνι, καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτὸ ἐν μνήματι λαξευτῷ, οὗ οὐκ ἦν οὐδέπω οὐδεὶς κείμενος.
54That day was the Preparation; the Sabbath was drawing near.Καὶ ἡμέρα ἦν Παρασκευή, σάββατον ἐπέφωσκε.
55And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was placed.Κατακολουθήσασαι δὲ γυναῖκες, αἵτινες ἦσαν συνεληλυθυῖαι αὐτῷ ἐκ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, ἐθεάσαντο τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ ὡς ἐτέθη τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ.
56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.Ὑποστρέψασαι δὲ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα καὶ μύρα. Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν.
The Fathers on Luke 23
Saint Augustine comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Luke 23:26Saint AugustineMatthew, accordingly, goes on with his narrative in these terms: “And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear His cross.” In like manner, Mark says: “And they led Him out to be crucified.
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Luke 23:39–40Saint AugustineMatthew continues his narrative in these terms: “The robbers also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth.” Mark is quite in harmony with Matthew here, giving the same statement in different words.
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Luke 23:47Open Luke 23 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint AugustineMatthew proceeds thus: “And the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after the resurrection, and went into the holy city,...
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →