The verse doesn't just say Jesus was crucified with criminals; it places Him squarely between them. This arrangement is a stark visual of His purpose: to be the dividing line, drawing the lost and guilty to Himself and separating them from their former lives.
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just been condemned by Pilate and handed over to be crucified. The soldiers are leading him out of the city, along with two criminals who will share his fate, to a place outside the walls known as "The Skull," where executions took place. This scene sets the stage for the brutal and profoundly significant act of Jesus' crucifixion.
Why does Luke (and Matthew) specify the name of the place where Jesus was crucified? It wasn't just any random spot.
The place where Jesus was crucified is called "The Skull" (Calvary in Latin, Golgotha in Aramaic). While its exact location is debated, the name itself is significant. It might have been named for its shape, resembling a skull, or perhaps it was a burial ground strewn with skulls.
A Place of Death
Whatever the exact origin, "The Skull" was unmistakably a place associated with death. It was outside the city walls, a grim location for a condemned criminal.
A Symbolic Echo
This stark name underscores the profound reality of what was happening. Jesus, the life-giver, was submitting to death in the most public and brutal way. The very ground beneath Him was a symbol of mortality, a stark contrast to the eternal life He came to offer.
Jesus wasn't alone on the cross. Who were the two men beside Him, and why is their presence so important?
The verse states Jesus was crucified with two criminals, one on His right and one on His left. This wasn't accidental; it fulfilled prophecy and highlighted the choice humanity faces.
A Fulfillment of Scripture
Isaiah foretold this stark imagery: "he poured out his soul unto death and was numbered with the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12). Jesus, the sinless Son of God, was placed in the company of those who deserved death.
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The Spectrum of Response
This arrangement sets the stage for the dramatically different responses to Jesus's suffering. One criminal mocks Him, mirroring the world's rejection. The other, however, turns to Jesus in faith, demonstrating the radical power of God's grace even in the face of death. This scene powerfully illustrates that Jesus's atoning sacrifice was for all, but not everyone would accept it.
Understand the original words
stauroō · Greek Verb
A form of capital punishment involving being nailed or tied to a wooden cross, used by the Roman Empire for slaves, revolutionaries, and non-citizens. It serves as a symbol of sacrifice, substitutionary atonement, and the ultimate humiliation of the Messiah.
aphiēmi · Greek Verb
The divine prerogative to remit debt or sin, releasing the offender from the penalty they deserve. It is based on Christ's atoning work and is a primary theme of the Gospel.
himation · Greek Noun
Long tunics worn as undergarments, the division of which by casting lots fulfills Old Testament prophecy regarding the Messiah’s suffering.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is condemned by Pontius Pilate and crucified by Roman soldiers at a place called 'The Skull' or 'Golgotha' outside Jerusalem.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Two Criminals
Alongside Jesus, two other men, described as criminals or rebels, are also crucified. This was a common Roman method of execution for serious offenses.
c. AD 30
Soldiers Cast Lots
Roman soldiers divide Jesus' outer garments among themselves by casting lots, a practice described in prophecy.
c. AD 30
Mockery at the Cross
Various groups, including Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers, mock Jesus as he hangs on the cross, challenging him to save himself if he is the Christ.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Prayer for Forgiveness
During the ordeal, Jesus utters a prayer, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,' showing immense compassion even in his suffering.
c. AD 30
Penitent Thief's Plea
One of the criminals crucified with Jesus repents and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom, receiving assurance of salvation.
This passage also describes the arrival at Golgotha, meaning 'place of a skull,' and the crucifixion itself, highlighting the shared narrative of Jesus' final moments.
Mark 15:22Mark's account directly parallels Luke's, stating they brought Jesus to Golgotha and crucified him, emphasizing the brutal fulfillment of prophetic events.
John 19:17-18John details the procession to the place called the Skull, where Jesus was crucified, with two others on either side, underscoring the stark reality of his isolation amidst the condemned.
Isaiah 53:12This prophetic passage speaks of the suffering servant being 'numbered with the transgressors,' which is powerfully fulfilled in Jesus being crucified between two criminals.
vincentLuke 23:33: "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left."
Calvary (Κρανίον)The Greek word is the translation of the Hebrew Golgotha. See on Matthew 27:33.
clarkeLuke 23:33: "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left."
The place - called Calvary - See on Matthew 27:33 (note). They crucified him - See the nature of this punishment explained Matthew 27:35 (note).
The verse doesn't just say Jesus was crucified with criminals; it places Him squarely between them. This arrangement is a stark visual of His purpose: to be the dividing line, drawing the lost and guilty to Himself and separating them from their former lives.
Jesus has just been condemned by Pilate and handed over to be crucified. The soldiers are leading him out of the city, along with two criminals who will share his fate, to a place outside the walls known as "The Skull," where executions took place. This scene sets the stage for the brutal and profoundly significant act of Jesus' crucifixion.
Jesus has just been condemned by Pilate and handed over to be crucified. The soldiers are leading him out of the city, along with two criminals who will share his fate, to a place outside the walls known as "The Skull," where executions took place. This scene sets the stage for the brutal and profoundly significant act of Jesus' crucifixion.
"And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divi…" — The verse doesn't just say Jesus was crucified with criminals; it places Him squarely between them. This arrangement is a stark visual of His purpose: to be the dividing line, drawing the lost an…
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Last reviewed October 2026
