Luke 23:50 - Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man

Generated Verse: Luke 23:50

What does "Luke 23:50" mean?


This verse from Luke 23:50 introduces Joseph of Arimathea. Here's a breakdown of what each part of the verse means:

"Behold," This is an attention-grabbing word, indicating that the author wants the reader to pay special attention to the individual he is about to introduce.

"a man named Joseph," This simply identifies the individual as a man named Joseph.

"who was a member of the council," This indicates that Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council that held significant political and religious authority in Judea. This is a crucial detail because it means Joseph was someone of influence and status.

"a good and righteous man," This is a character description, highlighting Joseph's moral qualities. "Good" likely refers to his overall virtuous character and benevolence, while "righteous" implies that he adhered to religious laws and was just in his dealings.

Overall Meaning:

This verse serves to introduce Joseph of Arimathea as a person of high standing and moral integrity. The verse establishes his credentials, as both a member of the ruling council, and a man with a good reputation. This is important, because of what happens next. Luke is setting him up as someone who is respected in the community, and will therefore have the credibility to do what is described in the following verses - requesting the body of Jesus for proper burial.

It subtly prepares the reader to see him as a figure who, despite his position, was sympathetic to Jesus.

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