Luke 23:48
Context23:48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 1
Luke 18:13
Context18:13 The tax collector, however, stood 2 far off and would not even look up 3 to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful 4 to me, sinner that I am!’ 5


[23:48] 1 sn Some apparently regretted what had taken place. Beating their breasts was a sign of lamentation.
[18:13] 2 tn Grk “standing”; the Greek participle has been translated as a finite verb.
[18:13] 3 tn Grk “even lift up his eyes” (an idiom).
[18:13] 4 tn The prayer is a humble call for forgiveness. The term for mercy (ἱλάσκομαι, Jilaskomai) is associated with the concept of a request for atonement (BDAG 473-74 s.v. 1; Ps 51:1, 3; 25:11; 34:6, 18).
[18:13] 5 tn Grk “the sinner.” The tax collector views himself not just as any sinner but as the worst of all sinners. See ExSyn 222-23.