Luke 23:55

And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(55) And the women also.—Here again we come upon traces of St. Luke’s informants. The other Gospels speak of one or two by name. He knows that others belonging to the company of women who came with Jesus from Galilee (note the recurrence of the same description as in Luke 23:49) had taken part in the work. They had stood within view of the cross. They saw the body taken down. They followed (it was not far) to the garden owned by Nicodemus.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:50-56 Many, though they do not make any show in outward profession, yet, like Joseph of Arimathea, will be far more ready to do real service, when there is occasion, than others who make a greater noise. Christ was buried in haste, because the sabbath drew on. Weeping must not hinder sowing. Though they were in tears for the death of their Lord, yet they must prepare to keep holy the sabbath. When the sabbath draws on, there must be preparation. Our worldly affairs must be so ordered, that they may not hinder us from our sabbath work; and our holy affections so stirred up, that they may carry us on in it. In whatever business we engage, or however our hearts may be affected, let us never fail to get ready for, and to keep holy, the day of sacred rest, which is the Lord's day.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the Matthew 27:57-61 notes; Mark 15:42-47 notes.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Lu 23:47-56. Signs and Circumstances Following His Death—His Burial.

(See on [1739]Mt 27:51-56; [1740]Mt 27:62-66; and [1741]Joh 19:31-42).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Ver. 55,56. See Poole on "Matthew 27:61". It is Beza’s observation upon these verses, that Christ, being opposed by the devil and all his instruments, being now dead, leaveth two or three poor women, as it were, in the front of the battle, intending within a very short time, without much ado, to triumph over all these terrible adversaries.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the women also which came with him from Galilee,.... See Gill on Luke 23:49.

followed after; Joseph; and those that were with him, when they carried the body of Jesus, in order to inter it:

and beheld, the sepulchre; took notice of it, what an one it was, whereabout it stood in the garden, that they might know, and find it again:

and how his body was laid; in what position, form, and order; and observed that it was only wrapped in linen, and not anointed, or embalmed.

Geneva Study Bible

{18} And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

(18) Christ, being set upon by the devil and all his instruments, and being even in death's mouth, places weak women in his service, bearing in mind to immediately triumph over these terrible enemies, and that without any great endeavour.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 23:55. αἵτινες: possibly = αἵ, but possibly meant to suggest the idea of distinction: Galilean women, and such in character as you would expect them to be: leal-hearted, passionately devoted to their dead Friend.—ἀρώματα, spices, dry.—μύρα, ointments, liquid.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

55. the women also] The two other Synoptists mention specially Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of James and Joses.

followed after] Literally, “following closely.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 23:55. Ἐθεάσαντο, looked at [beheld]) so as that with the greater ease they might anoint Him the day but one following (on the day after the morrow).—τὸ μνημεῖον, the sepulchre) Luke 23:53.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 55. 56. - And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. The real process of embalming, the women who were of the company of Jesus - the Maries, Salome, and others - proposed to undertake as soon as the sabbath was passed, that is, on the first day of the coming week - the Sunday. How little even his nearest and dearest friends dreamed of a resurrection of the body! It seems probable that they expected, at least some of them, a glorious reappearance of Jesus, but when, but how, they had evidently formed no definite conception. None, however, seemed to have thought of the bodily resurrection which took place on the first day of the week- on that Sunday morning. St. Matthew (Matthew 27:62-66) relates how, after the entombment, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and asked that the sepulchre might, "until the third day," be made sure; and how the Roman governor bade them take such precautions as seemed good to them. These - his bitter opponents - were more clearsighted than his friends. They had some dim fears of something which might still follow, while his disciples, in their hopeless sorrow, thought nil was over. And rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. "It was the last sabbath of the old covenant. It was scrupulously respected" (Godet).



Luke 23:55