Luke 23:1

CHAPTER XXIII.

Christ is led to Pilate, and accused by the Jews, 1, 2.

Pilate examines, and pronounces him innocent, 3, 4.

The Jews virulently accuse him, 5.

Pilate, understanding that he was of Galilee, sends him to

Herod, by whom he is examined, 6-9.

The chief priests and scribes vehemently accuse him, and Herod

and his soldiers mock him, 10, 11.

Pilate and Herod become friends, 12.

Pilate, before the chief priests, rulers, and people, pronounces

Christ to be innocent, and offers to release him, 13-20.

The Jews clamour for his condemnation, and Pilate gives him up

to their will, 21-25.

Simon bears his cross, 26.

The people bewail him, and he foretells the destruction of the

Jewish state, 27-31.

He and two malefactors are brought to Calvary, and are crucified,

32, 33.

He prays for his crucifiers, 34.

He is derided, mocked, and insulted by the rulers, and by the

soldiers, 35-37.

The superscription on the cross, 38.

The conduct of the two malefactors, to one of whom he promises

paradise, 39-43.

The great darkness, 44, 45.

He gives up the ghost, 46.

The centurion and many others are greatly affected at his death,

47-49.

Joseph of Arimathea begs the body, and puts it in his own new

tomb, 50-53.

The women prepare spices and ointments to embalm him, 54-56.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIII.

Verse Luke 23:1. The whole multitude] It seems most probable that the chief priests, elders, scribes, and captains of the temple, together with their servants, dependents, and other persons hired for the purpose, made up the multitude mentioned here. The common people were generally favourers of Christ; and for this reason the Jewish rulers caused him to be apprehended in the night, and in the absence of the people, Luke 22:6, and it was now but just the break of day, Luke 22:66.