Luke 23:47
New International Version
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

New Living Translation
When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”

English Standard Version
Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

Berean Standard Bible
When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

Berean Literal Bible
And having seen that which had taken place, the centurion began glorifying God, saying, "Certainly this man was righteous."

King James Bible
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

New King James Version
So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

New American Standard Bible
Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “This man was in fact innocent.”

NASB 1995
Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

NASB 1977
Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous.”

Amplified Bible
Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he began praising and honoring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.”

Christian Standard Bible
When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!”

American Standard Version
And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

Contemporary English Version
When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Jesus must really have been a good man!"

English Revised Version
And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When an army officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Certainly, this man was innocent!"

Good News Translation
The army officer saw what had happened, and he praised God, saying, "Certainly he was a good man!"

International Standard Version
When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "This man certainly was righteous!"

Majority Standard Bible
When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

NET Bible
Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!"

New Heart English Bible
When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man."

Webster's Bible Translation
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

Weymouth New Testament
The Captain, seeing what had happened, gave glory to God, saying, "Beyond question this man was innocent."

World English Bible
When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the centurion having seen what was done, glorified God, saying, “Truly this Man was righteous”;

Berean Literal Bible
And having seen that which had taken place, the centurion began glorifying God, saying, "Certainly this man was righteous."

Young's Literal Translation
And the centurion having seen what was done, did glorify God, saying, 'Really this man was righteous;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the centurion having seen that having been done, honoured God, saying, Surely this man was just.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now, the centurion, seeing what had happened, glorified God, saying, “Truly, this man was the Just One.”

New American Bible
The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent beyond doubt.”

New Revised Standard Version
When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, Truly this was a righteous man.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
When the Centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God and he said, “Truly this man was The Righteous One.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying: Truly, this was a righteous man.

Godbey New Testament
And the centurion seeing that which took place, glorified God, saying, Surely this was a righteous man.

Haweis New Testament
And the centurion observing what had come to pass, glorified God, saying, Verily this man was a righteous person.

Mace New Testament
The centurion upon seeing what had happen'd, gave glory to God, and said, certainly this was a righteous man.

Weymouth New Testament
The Captain, seeing what had happened, gave glory to God, saying, "Beyond question this man was innocent."

Worrell New Testament
And the centurion, beholding what took place, glorified God, saying, "Truly This was a righteous Man!"

Worsley New Testament
And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this man was righteous.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death of Jesus
46Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last. 47When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts.…

Cross References
Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

Mark 15:39
When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Acts 10:1-2
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. / He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

Acts 16:29-34
Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. / Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” / They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” ...

John 19:34-37
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. / The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. / Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.” ...

Romans 10:9-10
that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. / For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

1 Timothy 6:13
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

Revelation 1:7
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

Isaiah 45:23
By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Psalm 22:27-28
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him. / For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.

Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

Numbers 14:17-19
So now I pray, may the power of my Lord be magnified, just as You have declared: / ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’ / Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of Your loving devotion, just as You have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”

2 Kings 5:15
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

Jonah 3:5-10
And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. / When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. / Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. ...

Daniel 4:34-37
But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. / All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” / At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

he.

Luke 23:41
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

Matthew 27:54
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Mark 15:39
And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

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Luke 23
1. Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod.
8. Herod mocks him.
12. Herod and Pilate become friends.
13. Barabbas is desired of the people,
24. and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified.
26. He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;
34. prays for his enemies.
39. Two criminals are crucified with him.
46. His death.
50. His burial.














When the centurion saw
The centurion, a Roman officer commanding a hundred soldiers, represents the occupying force in Judea. His presence at the crucifixion underscores the Roman authority over the region. The Greek word for "saw" (εἶδεν, eiden) implies more than just physical sight; it suggests perception and understanding. This moment marks a significant turning point, as a Gentile recognizes the divine nature of the events unfolding before him. Historically, centurions were known for their discipline and loyalty to Rome, making his acknowledgment of Jesus' righteousness all the more profound.

what had happened
This phrase refers to the supernatural events surrounding Jesus' death, including the darkness over the land and the tearing of the temple veil. These occurrences were not only physical phenomena but also carried deep spiritual significance. The darkness symbolized the judgment of sin, while the tearing of the veil represented the new access to God through Jesus' sacrifice. The centurion's recognition of these events suggests an awareness of their divine origin, which would have been startling to a Roman accustomed to polytheistic beliefs.

he glorified God
The act of glorifying God (ἐδόξαζεν τὸν Θεόν, edoxazen ton Theon) indicates a profound acknowledgment of God's presence and power. For a Roman centurion to glorify the God of Israel is a remarkable testament to the impact of Jesus' death. This moment reflects the fulfillment of Jesus' mission to draw all people to Himself, transcending cultural and religious barriers. The centurion's response is an early indication of the Gospel's reach beyond the Jewish community, foreshadowing the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

saying, 'Surely this was a righteous man.'
The centurion's declaration (Ὄντως ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος δίκαιος ἦν, Ontōs ho anthrōpos houtos dikaios ēn) is a powerful affirmation of Jesus' innocence and moral integrity. The term "righteous" (δίκαιος, dikaios) in the Greek context conveys a sense of justice and adherence to divine law. This acknowledgment from a Roman officer, who would have been familiar with the legal proceedings leading to crucifixion, serves as a divine vindication of Jesus' character. It highlights the injustice of His execution and points to His role as the sinless sacrifice for humanity's redemption.

(47-49) Now when the centurion saw what was done . . .--See Notes on Matthew 27:54-55; Mark 15:40-41. The phrase "glorified God" is, as has been noticed already (Luke 5:25), specially characteristic of St. Luke. The substitution of "this was a righteous man," for "this was the Son of God," may, perhaps, have originated in a wish to express the exact measure, and not more, of the sense in which the centurion had used the seemingly higher words.

Verse 47. - Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous Man. This was the Roman officer who was in command of the detachment on guard at the three crosses. St. Paul - who, if he did not absolutely put together the Third Gospel and the Acts, had much to do with the compilation and arrangement of these writings - on his many journeys and frequent changes of residence in different parts of the empire, had many opportunities of judging the temper and spirit of the Roman army, and on several occasions speaks favourably of these officers (Luke 7:2; Luke 23:47; Acts 10:1; Acts 22:26; Acts 27:43). Certainly this was a righteous Man. The noble generosity, the brave patience, and the strange majesty of the Sufferer; the awful portents which for three hours had accompanied this scene - portents which the centurion and many of the bystanders could not help associating with the crucifixion of him men called "the King of the Jews;" then the death, in which appeared no terror; - all this drew forth the exclamation of the Roman. In St. Matthew, the words of the centurion which are reported are "the Son of God." Twice in those solemn hours had the centurion heard the Crucified pray to his Father. This may have suggested the words, "Son of God;" but this change in the later Gospel of St. Luke to "a righteous Man" seems to point to the sense in which the Roman used the lofty appellation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
When
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

centurion
ἑκατοντάρχης (hekatontarchēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1543: A centurion of the Roman army. Or hekatontarchos hek-at-on'-tar-khos; from hekaton and archo; the captain of one hundred men.

saw
Ἰδὼν (Idōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

what
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

had happened,
γενόμενον (genomenon)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

he gave glory
ἐδόξαζεν (edoxazen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1392: To glorify, honor, bestow glory on. From doxa; to render glorious.

to God,
Θεὸν (Theon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

saying,
λέγων (legōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“Surely
Ὄντως (Ontōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3689: Really, truly, actually. Adverb of the oblique cases of on; really.

this
οὗτος (houtos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[a] righteous
δίκαιος (dikaios)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1342: From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.

man.”
ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.


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Luke 23:46
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