Luke 23:48

48 When all the people who had gathered there to watch saw what happened, they returned home, beating their chests because they were so sad.

Luke 23:48 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 23:48

And all the people that came together to that sight
To see the execution of Jesus; and some of them might be his inveterate enemies, and came to insult him, and did insult him; many of these, though not every individual of them:

beholding the things which were done;
the eclipse, earthquake

smote their breasts;
as conscious of guilt, and as fearing some dreadful judgment would fall upon them, and their nation, for this sin of crucifying Christ. The Persic version reads, "they went back, and kneeled down, and prostrated themselves to the ground"; as being in the utmost astonishment, confusion, fear, and dread:

and returned;
to the city, and to their own houses, where they might more seriously, and with the greater composure of mind, reflect on these things.

Luke 23:48 In-Context

46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, I give you my life." After Jesus said this, he died.

47 When the army officer there saw what happened, he praised God, saying, "Surely this was a good man!"

48 When all the people who had gathered there to watch saw what happened, they returned home, beating their chests because they were so sad.

49 But those who were close friends of Jesus, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance and watched.

50 There was a good and religious man named Joseph who was a member of the Jewish council.