Why did the crowd choose Barabbas instead of Jesus?

The crowd asked for Barabbas because their hearts were hardened against Jesus. The leaders had already rejected him and stirred up the people by accusing him of threatening the nation and Roman rule. Barabbas was in prison for rebellion and murder, yet they preferred a known criminal to the one who had healed and taught them. This deep swap, the guilty freed and the innocent condemned, shows how twisted human judgment can be and points to Jesus taking the place of sinners, even though he had done nothing wrong.

What is the meaning of Jesus saying, “Father, forgive them”?

When Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” he shows his heart toward those who are hurting him. The soldiers are crucifying him, the rulers are mocking him, and the crowd is watching, yet he asks God to forgive them. They do not understand who he truly is or the full weight of what they are doing. This prayer shows that Jesus is both the one offering himself as a sacrifice and the one pleading for mercy, and it gives hope that God can forgive even terrible sins done in ignorance and hardness.

Who is the repentant thief, and why is his request important?

One of the criminals hanging beside Jesus first mocked him, but then came to fear God. He admits that he and the other man are justly punished, but says Jesus has done nothing wrong. He then turns to Jesus and says, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” This is important because, in his last hours, he trusts Jesus as King even while Jesus is dying. Jesus answers, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise,” showing that real repentance and faith, even late in life, are heard and that Jesus has authority to save and to welcome people into God’s rest.

What does “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” teach about salvation?

Jesus’ words to the repentant thief show that salvation is by mercy, not by works. The man on the cross cannot make up for his crimes or live a new life on earth, but he turns to Jesus in faith. Jesus answers with a clear promise for that very day, and he says the man will be “with me,” which is the heart of paradise. This teaches that those who truly come to Jesus can be sure of being with him after death, and that his kingdom is real and present beyond the grave, even though his body is dying on the cross.

Why did Jesus tell the women, “Weep not for me, but for yourselves”?

As Jesus is led away, many women follow, weeping for him. He turns and tells them not to weep for him but for themselves and their children. He warns of coming days when people will see such trouble and judgment that they will call the childless blessed and wish mountains would fall on them. He adds, “If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” Meaning, if such things happen to him, the righteous one, what will happen to a guilty nation? He is pointing them to repent and think about the coming hardship rather than only feeling sorry for his pain.

What is the meaning of the veil of the temple being torn in two?

When Jesus dies, darkness covers the land and the veil in the temple is torn down the middle. This veil had separated the most holy place from the rest of the temple, marking off where God’s presence was symbolically hidden. Its tearing shows that something deep has changed in the way people come to God. Jesus has gone into the darkness of death and judgment so that the barrier between God and sinners can be removed. The torn veil is a sign that through his death, access to God is now opened, not by temple rituals, but through him.

Why does Pilate say he finds no fault in Jesus but still condemns him?

Pilate says more than once that he finds no fault in Jesus regarding the charges. Even Herod does not condemn Jesus to death. Yet Pilate gives in when the crowd shouts for crucifixion and demands Barabbas. He tries halfway measures, like having Jesus beaten and then released, but finally chooses peace with the crowd over justice. This shows how human rulers can know what is right and still refuse to do it because of fear or self-interest. It also highlights that Jesus is truly innocent and is condemned not for his own sin, but as part of God’s plan to bear the sins of others.

What does the centurion mean when he says, “Certainly this was a righteous man”?

The centurion is a Roman officer in charge of the execution. He watches the darkness, the way Jesus dies, and all that happens at the cross. Seeing these things, he glorifies God and says, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” He recognizes that Jesus has been condemned wrongly and that there is something holy about him. This confession is striking because it comes from a Gentile soldier, not from the religious leaders. It shows that even those who once opposed Jesus can be moved to see his innocence and give honor to God when they are faced with the reality of his death.

Who was Joseph of Arimathea, and why is his role important?

Joseph of Arimathea is described as a counsellor, a good and just man, who had not agreed with the decision to kill Jesus. He was waiting for the kingdom of God. After Jesus dies, Joseph goes to Pilate, asks for the body, takes it down from the cross, wraps it in linen, and lays it in a new tomb cut in rock. His role matters because it shows that not all leaders agreed with the death of Jesus, and it gives clear proof that Jesus truly died and was buried. The women see where he is laid, which prepares the way for the witness of the empty tomb later.

Luke.23.1

Luke 23:1

KJV

And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

Jesus before Pilate

1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

Jesus before Herod

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion

26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

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

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is the King of the Jews.

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The Death of Jesus

44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

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

48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

The Burial of Jesus

50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.