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Please choose a passage in Luke 23
The Priests bring and accuse Jesus to Pilate. Not permitted to execute Jesus themselves, the Sanhedrin brings Jesus to Pilate early in the morning for His Roman or Civil Trial. They present three charges against Jesus: He is misleading the nation; He teaches people to not pay their taxes; He claims to be a king. The third accusation is the most serious and the one that the trial chiefly pursues. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus’s Arraignment before Pilate.
Pilate’s First Interview with Jesus and his First Declaration of Innocence: Pilate follows up on the charge of insurrection and interviews Jesus, asking Him if He is the King of the Jews. Jesus replies, "It is as you say." Pilate finds nothing in Jesus’s answer to convict Him, so declares His innocence. The chief priests are adamant that Jesus must die. As they protest, Pilate hears that Jesus is from Galilee, and decides to send Jesus to Herod, the ruler of that district, and let him deal with the trial. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus’s Arraignment before Pilate.
Herod Antipas judges Jesus: When Jesus first arrives in Herod Antipas’s court, the tetrarch is greatly pleased because he has been wanting to see the miracle worker perform a sign. When Jesus remains completely silent, Herod’s demeanor shifts to contempt and he leads his court in mocking Jesus, dressing him in a fine robe as a joke, and then returns Him to Pilate. This is the second phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus’s Audience before Herod Antipas.
Pilate’s First Attempt to Release Jesus: When Jesus is returned from Herod to Pilate, the Roman governor summarizes the events of the civil trial thus far. He restates the verdicts. Jesus was not guilty of the charges as declared by both Pilate and Herod. Then in an extraordinary gesture to appease Jesus’s accusers, Pilate offers to punish Jesus (despite his declarations of Him having no guilt) before he releases Him. This passage begins Luke’s account of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."
"The Passover Pardon": Pilate’s Second Attempt to Release Jesus: Luke interrupts his narrative of the third phase of Jesus’s civil trial to mention an obligation the Roman governor had to the people of Judea. Each year the governor of Judea would release one prisoner during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Pilate will soon make use of this obligation in an attempt to release Jesus.This interjection occurs within Luke’s account of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas: The crowd responds to Pilate’s offer to use the governor’s "Passover Pardon" on Jesus by shouting at Him to give them Barabbas instead. Barabbas had been imprisoned for insurrection and murder. Pilate wanted to release Jesus and tries to persuade the crowd again, but they kept on calling out—"Crucify, crucify Him!" This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."
Pilate’s Third Attempt to Release Jesus: Pilate attempts to release Jesus a third time and asks the crowd (who is demanding Jesus’s crucifixion) "Why, what evil has this man done?" No response is recorded. Pilate then reiterates Jesus’s innocence and tells the crowd that he will punish Him (by Roman flogging) before releasing Him. This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."
The Crowd Prevails and Pilate’s Verdict: The crowd was insistently loud in demanding that Jesus be crucified. Eventually their voices began to prevail so that Pilate granted their wishes. He released Barabbas for them, but gave Jesus over to their murderous will. This passage concludes Luke’s account of the third and final phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."
Luke Chapter 23 narrates the final hours of Jesus before His crucifixion, emphasizing the gravity of His trial and the depth of His innocence. The chapter begins with Jesus being brought before Pontius Pilate, who served as the Roman governor of Judea from around AD 26 to 36. The Jewish leaders accuse Jesus of misleading the nation, but Pilate sees no fault in Him and sends Him to Herod Antipas (the tetrarch of Galilee from about 4 BC to AD 39). Herod, seeking to see a miracle, ends up mocking Jesus but ultimately returns Him to Pilate, finding no criminal guilt. Despite Pilate’s repeated attempts to release Jesus, the crowd’s demands for crucifixion prevail.
The Romans lead Jesus to a place called “the Skull,” traditionally known as Golgotha, just outside the walls of Jerusalem. There He is crucified between two criminals. Even in this profound moment of agony, Jesus intercedes for His persecutors, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Soldiers cast lots for His garments, a fulfillment of prophetic scriptures indicating the Messiah’s rejection by His own people. As Jesus hangs on the cross, onlookers, scoffers, and leaders alike continue to taunt Him for proclaiming Himself to be the Messiah.
In the midst of suffering, one of the criminals recognizes Jesus’ innocence, seeking mercy. Jesus responds with the promise, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). After Jesus cries out in a loud voice, the sky darkens, the temple veil tears, and He entrusts His spirit to the Father. A Roman centurion observing these events acknowledges Jesus’ righteousness, providing a testimony of the extraordinary nature of His death. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council who had not consented to the plan to condemn Jesus, offers his own tomb for Jesus’ burial, underscoring Jesus’ dignity even in death.
Luke Chapter 23 stands at the heart of the Gospel narrative, confirming that Jesus is the innocent and sacrificial Lamb who takes upon Himself the sins of the world, in accordance with prophecies like Isaiah 53:5. Luke 23’s themes of sacrifice, rejection, and ultimate hope tie into the broader biblical story, culminating in the resurrection accounts that follow, which affirm the power and glory of the risen Christ (Luke 24). The chapter highlights both the historical scene in first-century Judea and the eternal significance of Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity, demonstrating that His suffering, death, and subsequent resurrection fulfill God’s plan of redemption.
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