Luke 23:32
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Luke 23:32
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrasing "two others, malefactors" is crucial because it clarifies that Jesus himself was not a malefactor; the designation belongs solely to the two individuals led away alongside him. This distinction is vital for understanding how the event was perceived and recorded, emphasizing Jesus's unique placement among those condemned for actual crimes.
As Jesus is led to his execution, he is accompanied by two criminals also condemned to die. This stark contrast highlights Jesus' innocence amidst lawbreakers, emphasizing that he is being treated as one of them by the authorities and the crowd, even though he is fundamentally different. The narrative is building towards the crucifixion itself, where the implications of this association will become deeply significant.
We often picture the two men crucified with Jesus as common thieves. But the original Greek word used paints a more specific and unsettling picture.
The Greek word used here is "kakourgoi." While it can mean 'evil-doer,' it often referred to more serious criminals, like robbers, bandits, or insurgents who engaged in violent acts.
This wasn't just petty theft; these were individuals associated with serious crime and likely rebellion against Roman authority. They were considered dangerous and a threat to society.
By placing Jesus among them, the authorities aimed to lump Him in with the worst elements of society, demeaning Him and making His crucifixion seem justified in the eyes of the crowd.
The crucifixion scene forces us to confront how Jesus was perceived by His accusers versus who He truly was. This verse highlights a deliberate act of mischaracterization.
The text says 'two others...led with him.' This phrasing suggests that Jesus was grouped with these criminals, implying He was one of them.
This was a calculated move by the Roman and Jewish authorities. Their goal was to strip Jesus of any perceived dignity and to paint Him as a criminal deserving of the same ignominious death.
However, this grouping, while criminalizing Jesus in the eyes of the world, doesn't define His identity. The Gospels consistently present Jesus as innocent, the Son of God, distinct from the 'malefactors' beside Him.
Understand the original words
kakourgos · Greek Noun
A person who has broken the law and is subject to punishment, often used in the New Testament to describe those crucified alongside Jesus to fulfill prophecy.
The crucifixion of criminals alongside Jesus was a common Roman practice, often used to make a public spectacle of condemned rebels and murderers. This historical context underscores the deep shame and degradation Jesus endured, being treated as a common criminal among others.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is condemned by Pontius Pilate and crucified by Roman soldiers. This event is the central focus of the New Testament narrative.
c. 30 AD
Release of Barabbas
According to Roman custom during Passover, the governor would release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. The crowd chose to release Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, instead of Jesus.
c. 30 AD
Crucifixion of Criminals Alongside Jesus
Roman custom dictated that serious offenders, particularly rebels and murderers, were crucified. It was common to crucify multiple individuals at once, often placing them on either side of a central figure.
c. 30 AD
Simon of Cyrene Compelled to Carry the Cross
Roman soldiers, finding Jesus too weak to carry his own cross, forced a bystander named Simon to carry it. This highlights the brutality of Roman execution methods and Jesus' suffering.
This passage in Matthew also mentions the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus, highlighting the grim context of his execution as a supposed criminal.
Mark 15:27Mark's Gospel records the same detail, emphasizing that Jesus was numbered among lawbreakers, a stark contrast to his innocence.
Isaiah 53:12This prophecy foretells that the Suffering Servant would be 'numbered with the transgressors,' directly foreshadowing Jesus being crucified between two criminals.
Luke 23:39-43The subsequent verses in Luke detail the interaction between Jesus and one of the criminals, revealing the profound contrast between hardened sin and repentant faith, even at the point of death.
vincentLuke 23:32: "And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death."
Two otherThe possible omission of a comma before malefactors in the A. V. might make a very awkward and unpleasant statement. Better Rev., two others, malefactors.Put to death (ἀναιρεθῆναι)Lit., to take up and carry away; so that the Greek idiom answers to our taken off. So Shakspeare:"The deep damnation of his taking off."Macbeth, i., 7."Let her who would be rid of him, deviseHis speedy taking off."Lea…
barnesLuke 23:32: "And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death."
See the notes at Matthew 27:35 , Matthew 27:38 .
The phrasing "two others, malefactors" is crucial because it clarifies that Jesus himself was not a malefactor; the designation belongs solely to the two individuals led away alongside him. This distinction is vital for understanding how the event was perceived and recorded, emphasizing Jesus's unique placement among those condemned for actual crimes.
As Jesus is led to his execution, he is accompanied by two criminals also condemned to die. This stark contrast highlights Jesus' innocence amidst lawbreakers, emphasizing that he is being treated as one of them by the authorities and the crowd, even though he is fundamentally different. The narrative is building towards the crucifixion itself, where the implications of this association will become deeply significant.
As Jesus is led to his execution, he is accompanied by two criminals also condemned to die. This stark contrast highlights Jesus' innocence amidst lawbreakers, emphasizing that he is being treated as one of them by the authorities and the crowd, even though he is fundamentally different. The narrative is building towards the crucifixion itself, where the implications of this association will become deeply significant.
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c. 30 AD
Mockery at the Crucifixion Site
Passersby, soldiers, and religious leaders mocked Jesus as he hung on the cross, further demonstrating the humiliation and shame associated with crucifixion.
c. 30 AD
The Two Thieves' Reactions
The two criminals crucified with Jesus reacted differently. One joined in the mockery, while the other rebuked him and asked Jesus to remember him, displaying faith even in that dire moment.
"Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him." — The phrasing "two others, malefactors" is crucial because it clarifies that Jesus himself was not a malefactor; the designation belongs solely to the two individuals led away alongside him. This dist…