Luke 23 47

Luke 23:47 kjv

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

Luke 23:47 nkjv

So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"

Luke 23:47 niv

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."

Luke 23:47 esv

Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"

Luke 23:47 nlt

When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, "Surely this man was innocent. "

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 47 Meaning

Luke 23:47 describes a pivotal moment at the cross: a Roman centurion, an executioner, after witnessing the extraordinary events surrounding Jesus' death, responded by praising God and affirming Jesus' complete innocence. This declaration stands in stark contrast to the earlier condemnation by religious and political authorities, serving as a powerful, unexpected testimony to the truth of who Jesus was and the injustice He suffered.

Luke 23 47 Context

Luke 23:47 takes place immediately after Jesus' death on the cross, amidst a series of supernatural occurrences like the three hours of darkness (Luke 23:44-45a) and the tearing of the temple veil (Luke 23:45b). The verse follows Jesus' final words and His yielding up of His spirit (Luke 23:46). The centurion in charge of the execution detail would have been an experienced Roman soldier accustomed to death, but the manner of Jesus' death—his calm, powerful words, and the accompanying cosmic signs—struck him profoundly.

From a Lukan perspective, this declaration is highly significant. Luke, writing largely for a Gentile audience, consistently highlights Jesus' innocence throughout His trial, particularly His freedom from any crime against the Roman state (Lk 23:4, 14, 22). The centurion's testimony serves as the climactic, objective, and Gentile witness to this very fact, validating Jesus' blamelessness even in the eyes of Rome. It counters the accusations that led to His crucifixion, vindicating Jesus by the admission of an unlikely figure.

Luke 23 47 Word Analysis

• Now (Greek: δέ - de): A conjunction, indicating a transition or a slight pause, bringing attention to the new subject: the centurion.
• when the centurion (Greek: ὁ ἑκατοντάρχης - ho hekatontarchēs): Refers to the Roman military officer, typically commanding around 100 men. This individual represents the pagan, gentile world and imperial authority. His rank signifies a reliable and authoritative observer of the execution.
• saw (Greek: ἰδών - idōn): A participle meaning "having seen" or "beholding." It implies direct observation, not hearsay, and a personal encounter with the events, not just casual viewing. The seeing led to understanding and a reaction.
• what had taken place (Greek: τὸ γενόμενον - to genomenon): This phrase refers to the entirety of the preceding events at the crucifixion: Jesus' demeanor, His powerful last words, the inexplicable darkness, and perhaps other phenomena like the temple veil tearing (though explicitly mentioned just prior, it is implied to be part of "what happened").
• he praised (Greek: ἐδόξασεν - edoxasen): From doxazō, meaning "to glorify," "to honor," "to give praise to." This is a strong, theological verb. It is not merely an expression of wonder or relief but an act of worship and ascribing true worth and divine power to God in response to what he witnessed.
• God (Greek: τὸν Θεόν - ton Theon): This refers to the one true God, not a pagan deity. For a Roman officer to "praise God" (singular, definite article), implies a profound recognition of a higher power at work, moving him beyond his native polytheism.
• saying (Greek: λέγων - legōn): Indicating his subsequent verbal declaration, which explains the praise.
• Certainly (Greek: ὄντως - ontōs): An emphatic adverb meaning "truly," "indeed," "certainly." It underscores the centurion's firm conviction and sincere belief, emphasizing the truth of his statement.
• this man (Greek: ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος - ho anthrōpos houtos): A simple but direct reference to Jesus. It emphasizes His humanity while subtly contrasting it with the divine power displayed around Him.
• was innocent (Greek: δίκαιος ἦν - dikaios ēn): The Greek term dikaios means "righteous," "just," "innocent," "blameless." Luke specifically uses dikaios, focusing on Jesus' moral and legal innocence—that He had committed no wrong to warrant His crucifixion. This is distinct from Mark's parallel (Mk 15:39) which uses "Son of God," though both are powerful confessions. Luke's emphasis here directly rebuts the charges of sedition and blasphemy. The imperfect tense (ēn - "was") suggests an ongoing state of being innocent, His innocence evident throughout His life and confirmed in His death.

Luke 23 47 Bonus Section

• Luke's "Dikaios" vs. Mark's "Son of God": Luke’s unique use of dikaios ("innocent/righteous") for the centurion's confession highlights Jesus' ethical purity and legal blamelessness, particularly for a Greco-Roman audience who might have viewed Jesus as a revolutionary. This aligns with Luke’s consistent portrayal of Jesus as innocent before Pilate. Mark and Matthew's parallel accounts (Mk 15:39; Matt 27:54) have the centurion declare, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" While both are profound confessions, Luke's choice emphasizes justice and righteousness, setting the stage for the early church's defense against charges of disloyalty to Rome, affirming that Jesus was executed as a truly innocent man.
• First Gentile Fruit of the Cross: The centurion is often seen as the first "fruit" or visible convert directly at the scene of the crucifixion, representing the power of the cross to draw all people—even those most removed or in opposition to the Jewish faith—into an understanding of God's truth. This centurion’s response sets a precedent for the inclusion of Gentiles into the family of God, a major theme throughout Luke-Acts (e.g., Cornelius in Acts 10, also a centurion).
• The Power of Divine Manifestation: The centurion's change of heart demonstrates that God's power and truth can break through even the most hardened exteriors. It was not mere human words, but the overwhelming manifestation of divine presence (darkness, earthquake, Jesus' supernatural calm) that led to his confession and praise.

Luke 23 47 Commentary

Luke 23:47 captures the astonishing effect of Jesus' crucifixion on an unexpected observer: a pagan Roman centurion. Unlike the crowds or the religious leaders who had condemned Jesus, this hardened soldier, witnessing the preceding hours of darkness, Jesus' final declaration, and the tearing of the temple veil, recognized the divine hand at play. His response of "praising God" signifies more than mere awe; it suggests a deep conviction, perhaps even an incipient conversion, to the God revealed through Jesus.

His declaration, "Certainly this man was innocent!" (dikaios), is profound for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a crucial, impartial testimony to Jesus' blamelessness from an external, non-Jewish authority figure. This affirms Luke's repeated assertion that Jesus committed no crime worthy of death, dismantling the legitimacy of both the Jewish Sanhedrin's condemnation for blasphemy and Pilate's reluctant acquiescence to sedition charges. Secondly, Luke's choice of dikaios emphasizes Jesus' moral rectitude and His justness, presenting Him not as a political agitator, but as one unfairly executed, vindicated by God. This underscores the universal injustice of the cross but also hints at God's righteousness being revealed even in such darkness. The centurion’s confession foreshadows the universal reach of the Gospel, as Gentiles would be among the first to acknowledge Jesus’ truth. It demonstrates that God reveals Himself in ways that shatter human expectations, leading even those steeped in a different culture and military duty to recognize divine truth at the foot of the cross.