Luke 23:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.

NIV: A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

NASB: Now following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and grieving for Him.

CSB: A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him.

NLT: A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women.

KJV: And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

NKJV: And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.

With Simon of Cyrene carrying the crossbeam, the soldiers march Jesus to Golgotha, the "Place of the Skull" (Mark 15:22). Members of the crowd who have just demanded Jesus' crucifixion follow. Not all who follow are complicit, however (Luke 23:50–51).

Only Luke includes the curious interaction between Jesus and mourning women. No details are given as to who they are. They may be some of Jesus' followers or just members of the crowd. Some scholars suggest these were professional mourners hired by a well-meaning follower, others suggest they were women who commonly gave soothing aid to the condemned.

While Jesus is on the cross, most of the bystanders mock Him. While all the apostles other than John hide, the women who were among His followers stay closer: Mary, Jesus' mother; her sister, Salome; Mary the wife of Clopas and mother of James and Joses; and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus hangs from the cross, they are so close He can speak to them (John 19:25–27; Mark 15:40), although they later move farther away (Luke 23:49).

Once He dies, however, "the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle … returned home beating their breasts" (Luke 23:48). It seems some of those easily tricked by the chief priests finally realize they have made a tragic mistake.

Jesus is more interested in the long-term effects of their betrayal. The coming destruction of Jerusalem will be so severe that women will wish they were infertile—an unthinkable curse in that culture. The people will beg the mountains to cover them with stones. At Jesus' death, the Jews and their Roman occupiers are on pleasant terms. That will not last. Within forty or so years, the people will start a civil war, and the Romans will burn Jerusalem (Luke 23:28–31).

Luke 23:26–31 describes Jesus' journey to the cross. Along the way, Simon of Cyrene is conscripted to carry the cross beam. In a section unique to Luke, a large crowd follows Jesus, mourning; Jesus tells the women that their own great hardships are yet to come. Matthew 27:27–32, Mark 15:16–21, and John 19:16–17 add other details like the crown of thorns and the Roman soldiers mocking Jesus.

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.