Luke 23:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"

NIV: But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

NASB: but they kept on crying out, saying, 'Crucify, crucify Him!'

CSB: but they kept shouting, "Crucify! Crucify him!"

NLT: But they kept shouting, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!'

KJV: But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

NKJV: But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

This is music to the ears of the chief priests, elders, and scribes. Hours before, they had followed Judas to the Mount of Olives to arrest Jesus. They went in the dark of night, knowing that if they tried to arrest Him in broad daylight, the people would rebel against them (Luke 22:1–2).

They need it to seem as if the people are on their side. They don't need all the people. Just as in modern politics, the loudest, angriest, and most immediate voices are the first to be heard. The mob's presence is enough for Pilate to worry about a riot. Pilate understands that the leaders are persecuting Jesus because they're jealous of His popularity (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10). Pilate has the authority to decide who will hold the position of high priest. Caiaphas held that rank for nearly twenty years, suggesting he and Pilate get along very well. But if Jesus draws the people away from the priests, the priests will lose influence and Pilate may take away their authority (John 11:48). They could lose everything.

So, the religious leaders perform a brazen feat of hypocrisy. They charge Jesus with attempted insurrection (Luke 23:1–5) while they agitate a throng threatening to start an insurrection (Matthew 27:24), unless Pilate releases a man convicted of insurrection (Luke 23:19). If the Jewish leaders can get a Roman governor to remove Jesus using a Roman execution, they can minimize the evidence of their involvement.

Pilate isn't done, however. The injustice against Jesus is so overblown that he tries one more time. The crowd will hear none of it. The crowd shouts Pilate down until he agrees to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:22–25).

Luke 23:20–25 is Pilate's last attempt to convince the Sanhedrin that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Still, the religious leaders demand that Jesus be crucified and Barabbas be freed. Finally, Pilate does as they insist (Mark 15:12–15). Matthew 27:22–26 adds that Pilate absolves himself and the leaders casually accept responsibility. John 19:6–16 includes that Jesus refuses to defend Himself, Pilate becomes afraid, and the religious leaders threaten Pilate that if he releases Jesus he is not Caesar's friend.

Luke 23 records the remaining trials, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. He is examined by the Roman governor and the local appointed King, neither of whom are interested in passing a death sentence. Local religious leaders incite the crowd, pressuring the governor, Pilate, to authorize crucifixion. Jesus accepts the faith of another condemned man and dies. Joseph of Arimathea asks for Jesus body and buries it in a tomb cut from rock.

Luke 23 records Jesus' civil trials, crucifixion, and burial. The members of the Sanhedrin have put Jesus through three trials in their attempt to convince Pilate He's a threat (Luke 22:47–71). Their case is weak, but their political influence is powerful enough to force Pilate's hand. Jesus is executed. Three days after Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus, Jesus reappears on the road to Emmaus where He explains Messianic prophecies in Jewish Scriptures. After spending time with His followers, Jesus ascends into heaven (Luke 24) and the disciples build the church (Acts).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.