Luke 23:39

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 23:39 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.
Luke 23:39 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
39And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And one of the malefactors, which were hanged, etc.] On the cross, one of the thieves crucified with Christ; the Oriental versions add, “with him”; according to the Evangelists Matthew and Mark, both of them reviled him, and threw the same things in his teeth as the priests, people, and soldiers did; which how it may be reconciled, (see Gill on “<402744>Matthew 27:44”) railed on him, saying, if thou be Christ, save thyself, and us; taking up the words of the rulers, and adding to them, perhaps, with a design to curry favour with them, hoping thereby to get a release; or, however, showing the wickedness and malice of his heart, which his sufferings and punishment, he now endured, could make…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“THE TWO THIEVES. (Luk 23:39-43) railed on him--catching up the universal derision, but with a turn of his own. Jesus, "reviled, reviles not again"; but another voice from the cross shall nobly wipe out this dishonor and turn it to the unspeakable glory of the dying Redeemer.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the notes at Matthew 27:41-44. Luke 23:38 In letters of Greek ... - See the notes at Matthew 27:37. Luke 23:39 One of the malefactors - Matthew Matthew 27:44 says “the thieves - cast the same in his teeth.” See the apparent contradiction in these statements reconciled in the notes at that place. If thou be Christ - If thou art the Messiah; if thou art what thou dost pretend to be. This is a taunt or reproach of the same kind as that of the priests in Luke 23:35. Save thyself and us - Save our lives. Deliver us from the cross. This man did not seek for salvation truly; he asked not to be delivered from his sins; if he had, Jesus would also have heard him. Men often, in sickness and…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And one of the malefactors reviled him - St. Matthew says, the robbers: St. Mark, they that were crucified with him, reviled him. Either therefore St. Matthew and Mark put the plural for the singular (as the best authors sometimes do) or both reviled him at the first, till one of them felt "the overwhelming power of saving grace." Luke 23:40”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Luk 17:34-36; Mat 27:44; Mar 15:32 Luke 23:40”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification