Luke 23:33-38

23:33 So ¹  when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” ²  they crucified ³  him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 23:34 [But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”] ⁴  Then ⁵  they threw dice ⁶  to divide his clothes. ⁷  23:35 The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed ⁸  him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save ⁹  himself if ¹⁰  he is the Christ ¹¹  of God, his chosen one!” 23:36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, ¹²  23:37 and saying, “If ¹³  you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 23:38 There was also an inscription ¹⁴  over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”

[23:33]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the preceding material.

[23:33]  ² sn The place that is called ‘The Skull’ (known as Golgotha in Aramaic, cf. John 19:17) is north and just outside of Jerusalem. The hill on which it is located protruded much like a skull, giving the place its name. The Latin word for Greek κρανίον (kranion) is calvaria, from which the English word “Calvary” derives (cf. Luke 23:33 in the KJV).

[23:33]  ³ sn See the note on crucify in 23:21.

[23:34]  ⁴ tc Many important mss (Ì⁷⁵ א¹ B D* W Θ 070 579 1241 pc sy^s sa) lack v. 34a. It is included in א*^,2 (A) C D² L Ψ 0250 Ë^1,(13) 33 Ï lat sy^c,p,h. It also fits a major Lukan theme of forgiving the enemies (6:27-36), and it has a parallel in Stephen’s response in Acts 7:60. The lack of parallels in the other Gospels argues also for inclusion here. On the other hand, the fact of the parallel in Acts 7:60 may well have prompted early scribes to insert the saying in Luke’s Gospel alone. Further, there is the great difficulty of explaining why early and diverse witnesses lack the saying. A decision is difficult, but even those who regard the verse as inauthentic literarily often consider it to be authentic historically. For this reason it has been placed in single brackets in the translation.

[23:34]  ⁵ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[23:34]  ⁶ tn Grk “cast lots” (probably by using marked pebbles or broken pieces of pottery). A modern equivalent “threw dice” was chosen here because of its association with gambling.

[23:34]  ⁷ sn An allusion to Ps 22:18, which identifies Jesus as the suffering innocent one.

[23:35]  ⁸ tn A figurative extension of the literal meaning “to turn one’s nose up at someone”; here “ridicule, sneer at, show contempt for” (L&N 33.409).

[23:35]  ⁹ sn The irony in the statement Let him save himself is that salvation did come, but later, not while on the cross.

[23:35]  ¹⁰ tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.

[23:35]  ¹¹ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[23:36]  ¹² sn Sour wine was cheap wine, called in Latin posca, and referred to a cheap vinegar wine diluted heavily with water. It was the drink of slaves and soldiers, and the soldiers who had performed the crucifixion, who had some on hand, now used it to taunt Jesus further.

[23:37]  ¹³ tn This is also a first class condition in the Greek text.

[23:38]  ¹⁴ sn Mention of the inscription is an important detail, because the inscription would normally give the reason for the execution. It shows that Jesus was executed for claiming to be a king. It was also probably written with irony from the executioners’ point of view.