Herod's moral nature had become almost extinguished by a long course of immorality and cruelty. While the Baptist lived, he had "done many things" and heard John gladly; but when the beheading of this faithful witness on his own orders had taken place, the royal sinner went headlong to ruin. He treated this incident with flippant levity. The gorgeous raiment, being an imitation of the royal apparel of the Jewish kings, may have suggested the inscription affixed to the cross.
By giving the people the alternative of Christ or Barabbas, Pilate expected that they would certainly choose the former. To his dismay, this second effort to salve his conscience without endangering his reputation failed. So he drifted and sold his soul for power. Each of us has to choose between Christ and Barabbas, between the self-surrender of the Cross and brutal selfishness. Barabbas must have stolen to the Cross in the afternoon and said, as he stood there: "He hangs where I should have been. I am saved by His death." [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 23
1Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod 8Herod mocks him 12Herod and Pilate become friends 13Barabbas is desired of the people, 24and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified 26He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem; 34prays for his enemies 39Two criminals are crucified with him 46His death 50His burial
Greek Commentary for Luke 23:24
Gave sentence [επεκρινεν] Pronounced the final sentence. The usual verb for the final decision. Only here in the N.T. [source]
Gave sentence [ἐπέκρινεν] Pronounced the final sentence. Only here in New Testament.sa40 [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 23:24
1 John 5:15Whatsoever we ask [ο εαν αιτωμετα] Indefinite relative clause with modal εαν ean (= αν an) and the present middle (as for ourselves) subjunctive of αιτεω aiteō This clause, like ημων hēmōn is also the object of ακουει akouei know that we have Repetition of οιδαμεν oidamen the confidence of possession by anticipation.The petitions (τα αιτηματα ta aitēmata). Old word, from αιτεω aiteō requests, here only in John, elsewhere in N.T. Luke 23:24; Philemon 4:6. We have the answer already as in Mark 11:24.We have asked Perfect active indicative of αιτεω aiteō the asking abiding. [source]
Greek Commentary for Luke 23:24
Pronounced the final sentence. The usual verb for the final decision. Only here in the N.T. [source]
Pronounced the final sentence. Only here in New Testament.sa40 [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 23:24
Indefinite relative clause with modal εαν ean (= αν an) and the present middle (as for ourselves) subjunctive of αιτεω aiteō This clause, like ημων hēmōn is also the object of ακουει akouei know that we have Repetition of οιδαμεν oidamen the confidence of possession by anticipation.The petitions (τα αιτηματα ta aitēmata). Old word, from αιτεω aiteō requests, here only in John, elsewhere in N.T. Luke 23:24; Philemon 4:6. We have the answer already as in Mark 11:24.We have asked Perfect active indicative of αιτεω aiteō the asking abiding. [source]
Old word, from αιτεω aiteō requests, here only in John, elsewhere in N.T. Luke 23:24; Philemon 4:6. We have the answer already as in Mark 11:24. [source]