Luke 23:47 Meaning and Explanation
“Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Seeing what has happened, the Roman centurion glorifies God and declares: certainly this was a righteous man.
What Does Luke 23:47 Mean?
The officer commanding the execution has watched men die before; he has never seen a man die like this. The prayer for his killers, the darkness, the loud committal — and the soldier of Rome glorifies the God of Israel and renders his own verdict: righteous.
The first confession after the death of Jesus comes from a Gentile executioner — firstfruits of the nations the cross will gather. Where priests mocked, a pagan soldier saw. The verdicts now stand complete: Pilate, Herod, the thief, and the centurion all pronounce him blameless. The righteous one has died — and Scripture tells why: “the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
Luke 23:47 in the Original Language
dikaios (δίκαιος), 'righteous' -- just, upright, innocent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 23:47
What does Luke 23:47 mean?
Seeing what has happened, the Roman centurion glorifies God and declares: certainly this was a righteous man.