Luke 23:32 kjv
And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
Luke 23:32 nkjv
There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.
Luke 23:32 niv
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
Luke 23:32 esv
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
Luke 23:32 nlt
Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him.
Luke 23 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 53:12 | Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide... | Prophecy: numbered with transgressors. |
| Mk 15:27 | They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. | Parallel account: Jesus with two criminals. |
| Mt 27:38 | Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. | Parallel account: Jesus with two robbers. |
| Jn 19:18 | There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side... | Parallel account: Two others crucified with Jesus. |
| Mk 15:28 | And the scripture was fulfilled which says, "He was numbered with the... | Fulfilment explicitly stated in Mark. |
| Isa 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar... | Prophecy: Jesus despised and identified with sorrow. |
| Php 2:8 | And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming... | Jesus' ultimate humility and obedience unto death. |
| Lk 5:32 | I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. | Jesus' mission to associate with and save sinners. |
| Heb 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our... | Jesus identifies with human weakness and sin (not His own). |
| Rom 8:3 | For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the sinful... | God sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might... | Jesus became sin, taking our place. |
| Lk 22:37 | It is written: 'He was assigned to be counted among the transgressors... | Jesus refers to the fulfilment of Isa 53:12. |
| Psa 22:6 | But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. | Prophetic suffering of the Messiah. |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us... | Jesus bore the curse due to us. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die... | Jesus bore our sins on the cross. |
| Isa 50:6 | I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out... | Prophecy: Messiah's suffering and mistreatment. |
| Lk 23:33 | When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there... | Immediate subsequent action in Luke's narrative. |
| Psa 69:10 | When I wept and fasted, I was ridiculed. | Prophetic suffering of the righteous man. |
| 1 Pet 4:16 | However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God... | Identification with Christ in suffering. |
| Rom 6:10 | The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives... | Christ's death as definitive for sin. |
| Jn 12:32 | And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. | Foreshadowing Jesus' elevation on the cross. |
Luke 23 verses
Luke 23 32 Meaning
Luke 23:32 depicts Jesus being led to His crucifixion, explicitly identifying two additional individuals accompanying Him. These are described as "criminals" (κακοῦργοι), a term implying serious wrongdoers or evildoers, distinct from mere robbers. The verse highlights the public humiliation and shared destiny of Jesus alongside these condemned men, setting the scene for His death among the vilified, thus fulfilling ancient prophecy and emphasizing His deep identification with humanity's sinfulness.
Luke 23 32 Context
Luke chapter 23 recounts the trial, condemnation, and crucifixion of Jesus. Following Jesus' appearances before Pilate and Herod, where both found no grounds for His execution, the crowd's relentless demand for His death, and Pilate's attempt to release Him by offering Barabbas, ultimately leads to Jesus' sentencing. Verse 32 occurs just after Pilate delivers Jesus to be crucified and Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry His cross (Lk 23:26). The scene is set on the journey to Golgotha, depicting the grim procession where Jesus, despite being declared innocent, is publicly grouped with genuine capital offenders. This historical context of Roman crucifixion, a brutal form of public execution reserved for slaves, foreign rebels, and the lowest criminals, underscores the profound shame and humiliation intended by Jesus' persecutors and accepted by Him as part of His mission.
Luke 23 32 Word analysis
Two other (καὶ ἕτεροι δύο - kai heteroi dyo): "Two other" distinct individuals are highlighted. The Greek heteroi specifies 'others of a different kind or character' but here used for 'additional'. The emphasis is on the fact that Jesus is not alone, but specifically accompanied by additional individuals who are criminals. This accentuates the public spectacle and the deliberate association of Jesus with common lawbreakers, rather than with political or religious leaders.
criminals (κακοῦργοι - kakourgoi): This Greek term denotes "evildoers," "malefactors," or "those who commit heinous acts." Unlike lēstai (robbers/bandits) used by Matthew and Mark, kakourgos carries a broader and perhaps stronger sense of being generally wicked or an extreme offender. Luke’s specific choice of kakourgoi emphasizes the perceived moral degeneracy of Jesus' companions, highlighting the ignominy of Jesus being grouped with such individuals, regardless of the precise nature of their crimes (whether common theft or more serious rebellion).
were also led away with him (συνήγοντο σὺν αὐτῷ - synēgonto syn autō): The verb synēgonto (imperfect passive, 'were being led together') explicitly states a shared action and destination. The prefix syn- (συν-) means "with" or "together." This phrasal construction is critical; it is not just that two other criminals were also being led, but that they were specifically led together with Him. This underscores the collective, public nature of the condemnation and execution, ensuring that Jesus was seen as one of them, subjected to the same fate as these infamous offenders.
to be executed (ἀναιρεθῆναι - anairethēnai): This passive infinitive signifies the ultimate purpose of the procession: capital punishment. Anairethēnai literally means "to be taken up" or "to be destroyed/killed." In this context, it specifically refers to being put to death, conveying the severity and finality of the Roman sentence. The use of a passive verb emphasizes that this action is being done to them by an external authority, underscoring their powerlessness and the predetermined nature of their death.
"Two other criminals were also led away with him": This phrase group emphasizes the immediate and direct association of Jesus with the most despised elements of society in His final public act. It implies a deliberate decision to group Him with them, solidifying the narrative of His rejection by both the religious authorities and the Roman state, making His death appear less as an exceptional injustice and more as a typical outcome for a criminal.
Luke 23 32 Bonus section
The mention of "criminals" (kakourgoi) in Luke differs from "robbers" (lēstai) found in Matthew and Mark's accounts (Mt 27:38; Mk 15:27). While both terms could refer to brigands or insurrectionists who often acted violently, Luke's choice of kakourgoi carries a more general connotation of "evil-doers" or "malefactors." This broader term could suggest that Luke intends to portray these individuals not necessarily as political revolutionaries, but as general wrongdoers deserving of the harshest punishment. This emphasis contributes to the theological message in Luke, that Jesus' crucifixion placed him among the lowest and most morally compromised, underscoring His radical identification with sin-laden humanity and providing the backdrop for His redemptive interaction with one of them later in the narrative.
Luke 23 32 Commentary
Luke 23:32 is a succinct yet profound statement, initiating the ultimate demonstration of Christ's humility and sacrificial mission. By being led out with "criminals," Jesus' condemnation is visually reinforced as not merely judicial but profoundly social and spiritual. This act fulfills Isaiah's prophecy (Isa 53:12) that the suffering servant would be "numbered with the transgressors," thus validating the divine purpose behind the human machinations. Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, willingly entered into the deepest shame and dishonor, identifying fully with fallen humanity. His death alongside these malefactors showcases God's paradoxical wisdom, where the Son, innocent and righteous, bore the world's sin by being placed among the guilty, demonstrating that His sacrifice was truly for "such as these" – all sinners. It sets the stage for the dramatic and transformative interaction between Jesus and one of these criminals later in the chapter (Lk 23:39-43), revealing the redemptive power available even at the very moment of His apparent defeat.