23:47 Now when the centurion 1 saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 2 23:48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 3
1 sn See the note on the word centurion in 7:2.
2 tn Or “righteous.” It is hard to know whether “innocent” or “righteous” is intended, as the Greek term used can mean either, and both make good sense in this context. Luke has been emphasizing Jesus as innocent, so that is slightly more likely here. Of course, one idea entails the other.
sn Here is a fourth figure who said that Jesus was innocent in this chapter (Pilate, Herod, a criminal, and now a centurion).
3 sn Some apparently regretted what had taken place. Beating their breasts was a sign of lamentation.