Luke 23:47 - When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Luke 23:47" mean?
This verse from Luke 23:47 is a powerful statement about the impact of Jesus's crucifixion on a Roman centurion. Let's break down what it means:
"When the centurion saw what was done...": The centurion was a Roman army officer in charge of the execution. He witnessed the entire process, likely including the scourging, the taunts, the suffering on the cross, the darkness that fell upon the land, and Jesus's final words.
"...he glorified God...": This is a significant shift. Roman soldiers weren't known for glorifying the Jewish God. "Glorified" means he praised, honored, and gave reverence to God. This implies a change in his perspective, a recognition of something divine or exceptional.
"...saying, 'Certainly this was a righteous man.'": The centurion's declaration is the crux of the verse. He uses the word "righteous" (or "just" in some translations). This implies more than just moral goodness. In the context of the time, it likely meant:
Innocent: The centurion recognized that Jesus didn't deserve his fate. He was executed despite not having committed any crime worthy of death.
Upright and Virtuous: Beyond mere innocence, "righteous" suggests a man of integrity, virtue, and moral uprightness. He lived according to a higher standard.
Potentially more: Given the centurion's act of glorifying God, it's possible he recognized something even deeper, a holiness or connection to the divine that went beyond mere human righteousness.
Therefore, the overall meaning of the verse is:
The Roman centurion, a hardened soldier accustomed to witnessing executions, was so profoundly moved by the events surrounding Jesus's crucifixion that he was compelled to acknowledge Jesus's innocence and extraordinary righteousness. He was further driven to glorify God, perhaps experiencing a moment of spiritual insight. This verse highlights the power of Jesus's death to affect even those seemingly hardened by the world and hints at the divine nature of Jesus that even a Roman officer could recognize. It serves as an early example of a Gentile recognizing the significance of Jesus. It also implies a critique of the Jewish authorities who condemned Jesus.
It's a short verse, but it speaks volumes about the impact of Jesus's sacrifice and the potential for even unlikely people to recognize the truth about him.
Luke 23:47 - When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
What does "Luke 23:47" mean?
This verse from Luke 23:47 is a powerful statement about the impact of Jesus's crucifixion on a Roman centurion. Let's break down what it means:
"When the centurion saw what was done...": The centurion was a Roman army officer in charge of the execution. He witnessed the entire process, likely including the scourging, the taunts, the suffering on the cross, the darkness that fell upon the land, and Jesus's final words.
"...he glorified God...": This is a significant shift. Roman soldiers weren't known for glorifying the Jewish God. "Glorified" means he praised, honored, and gave reverence to God. This implies a change in his perspective, a recognition of something divine or exceptional.
"...saying, 'Certainly this was a righteous man.'": The centurion's declaration is the crux of the verse. He uses the word "righteous" (or "just" in some translations). This implies more than just moral goodness. In the context of the time, it likely meant:
Innocent: The centurion recognized that Jesus didn't deserve his fate. He was executed despite not having committed any crime worthy of death.
Upright and Virtuous: Beyond mere innocence, "righteous" suggests a man of integrity, virtue, and moral uprightness. He lived according to a higher standard.
Potentially more: Given the centurion's act of glorifying God, it's possible he recognized something even deeper, a holiness or connection to the divine that went beyond mere human righteousness.
Therefore, the overall meaning of the verse is:
The Roman centurion, a hardened soldier accustomed to witnessing executions, was so profoundly moved by the events surrounding Jesus's crucifixion that he was compelled to acknowledge Jesus's innocence and extraordinary righteousness. He was further driven to glorify God, perhaps experiencing a moment of spiritual insight. This verse highlights the power of Jesus's death to affect even those seemingly hardened by the world and hints at the divine nature of Jesus that even a Roman officer could recognize. It serves as an early example of a Gentile recognizing the significance of Jesus. It also implies a critique of the Jewish authorities who condemned Jesus.
It's a short verse, but it speaks volumes about the impact of Jesus's sacrifice and the potential for even unlikely people to recognize the truth about him.