Luke 23:33-35 New English Translation
33 So[a] when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,”[b] they crucified[c] him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”][d] Then[e] they threw dice[f] to divide his clothes.[g] 35 The people also stood there watching, but the leaders ridiculed[h] him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save[i] himself if[j] he is the Christ[k] of God, his chosen one!”
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- Luke 23:33 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the preceding material.
- Luke 23:33 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).
- Luke 23:33 sn See the note on crucify in 23:21.
- Luke 23:34 tc Many significant mss (P75 א1 B D* W Θ 070 579 1241 sys sa) lack v. 34a. It is included in א*,2 (A) C D2 L Ψ 0250 ƒ1,(13) 33 M lat syc,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.
- Luke 23:34 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
- Luke 23:34 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.
- Luke 23:34 sn An allusion to Ps 22:18, which identifies Jesus as the suffering innocent one.
- Luke 23:35 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).
- Luke 23:35 sn The irony in the statement Let him save himself is that salvation did come, but later, not while on the cross.
- Luke 23:35 tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.
- Luke 23:35 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”sn See the note on Christ in 2:11.
New English Translation (NET)
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