Luke 23:47 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"

NIV: The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."

NASB: Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, 'This man was in fact innocent.'

CSB: When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, "This man really was righteous!"

NLT: When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, 'Surely this man was innocent. '

KJV: Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

NKJV: So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

For the last six hours, Jesus languished in agony on the cross. Below Him, passersby have ridiculed Him (Matthew 27:39–40). The religious leaders have mocked, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" (Luke 23:35). And the soldiers who split up His clothing among them said, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" Though the middle of the afternoon, the land has been dark for the past three hours (Luke 23:44).

Now, after committing His spirit to God the Father and declaring, "It is finished!" Jesus has died (Luke 23:46; John 19:30). The enormous curtain in the temple tears in two, top to bottom. An earthquake rocks Jerusalem. Graves open and the dead who followed Jesus are brought back to life (Matthew 27:51–53).

Faced with such signs, the centurion who supervises the soldiers realizes how wrong they have been. He probably heard Pilate say that Jesus had committed no crime (Luke 23:4, 14–15, 22). Now he knows for himself: Jesus is innocent. The very earth responds to the death of a good man. He and the soldiers continue, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54).

The people understand a little better, as well, "And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts" (Luke 23:48). This may be a mixed crowd, some who mocked Jesus and some who mourned His death. The response is the same: this should not have happened and God is not pleased.

Luke 23:44–49 reports how the land turned dark and the temple veil was torn as Jesus gave His spirit to God and died. The centurion recognizes that Jesus is righteous, and the people go home, mourning. Jesus' acquaintances, including many of the women who support Him, look on from a distance. Matthew 27:45–56, Mark 15:33–41, and John 19:28–30 also record the death of 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.