Luke 23:48 Meaning and Explanation
“And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The crowds who gathered to watch return home beating their breasts.
What Does Luke 23:48 Mean?
The spectacle they came for is over, and no one leaves entertained. The multitudes that watched in silence now go home striking their breasts — the gesture of grief and self-reproach, the same the penitent tax collector made in Jesus' parable (Luke 18:13).
Something at the cross turns spectators into mourners. Luke lets us watch consciences waking — a city beginning to feel what has been done. Within weeks many in Jerusalem would be “pricked in their heart” at the preaching of this death and resurrection, and would ask what to do (Acts 2:37). The sorrow that walks home from Calvary is the seed of repentance, and repentance finds mercy waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 23:48
What does Luke 23:48 mean?
The crowds who gathered to watch return home beating their breasts.