Luke 23:35
New International Version
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

New Living Translation
The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

English Standard Version
And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”

Berean Standard Bible
The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

Berean Literal Bible
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also were deriding Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

King James Bible
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

New King James Version
And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

New American Standard Bible
And the people stood by, watching. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”

NASB 1995
And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”

NASB 1977
And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were scoffing at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”

Amplified Bible
Now the people stood by, watching; but even the rulers ridiculed and sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others [from death]; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God, His Chosen One.”

Christian Standard Bible
The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing: “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”

American Standard Version
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen.

English Revised Version
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people stood there watching. But the rulers were making sarcastic remarks. They said, "He saved others. If he's the Messiah that God has chosen, let him save himself!"

Good News Translation
The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders made fun of him: "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!"

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, the people stood looking on. The leaders were mocking him by saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if he is the Messiah of God, the chosen one!"

Majority Standard Bible
The people stood watching, and the rulers with them sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

NET Bible
The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!"

New Heart English Bible
The people stood watching. The rulers also scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his Chosen One."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he is Christ the chosen of God.

Weymouth New Testament
and the people stood looking on. The Rulers, too, repeatedly uttered their bitter taunts. "This fellow," they said, "saved others: let him save himself, if he is God's Anointed, the Chosen One."

World English Bible
The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the people were standing, looking on, and the rulers were also sneering with them, saying, “He saved others, let Him save Himself, if this be the Christ, the Chosen One of God.”

Berean Literal Bible
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also were deriding Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

Young's Literal Translation
And the people were standing, looking on, and the rulers also were sneering with them, saying, 'Others he saved, let him save himself, if this be the Christ, the choice one of God.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also who with them were deriding, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he is Christ, the chosen of God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided him, saying: He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the elect of God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And people were standing near, watching. And the leaders among them derided him, saying: “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this one is the Christ, the elect of God.”

New American Bible
The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.”

New Revised Standard Version
And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The people stood looking on. And even the leaders of the synagogue mocked him, and said, He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ, the chosen one of God.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the people were standing and watching and the leaders were mocking him and they were saying, “He gave life to others; let him save himself if he is The Messiah, The Chosen One of God.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the people stood and looked on. And the rulers, with them scoffed at him, saying: He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ, the chosen of God.

Godbey New Testament
The people stood looking: and the rulers were even mocking with themselves, saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ, the elect of God.

Haweis New Testament
And the people stood looking on. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this fellow is the Messiah, the elect of God.

Mace New Testament
while the people who stood looking on, and the senators themselves contemptuously said, he sav'd others; if he be Christ, the elect of God, let him save himself.

Weymouth New Testament
and the people stood looking on. The Rulers, too, repeatedly uttered their bitter taunts. "This fellow," they said, "saved others: let him save himself, if he is God's Anointed, the Chosen One."

Worrell New Testament
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also were scoffing at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself! if This is the Christ of God, the Chosen!"

Worsley New Testament
And the people stood looking on, and even the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, He saved others, let Him save Himself, if He be the Christ the chosen of God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Crucifixion
34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.…

Cross References
Matthew 27:41-43
In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, / “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. / He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

Mark 15:31-32
In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! / Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

Psalm 22:7-8
All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Matthew 27:39-40
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads / and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

Mark 15:29-30
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, / come down from the cross and save Yourself!”

Psalm 69:19-20
You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You. / Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

John 19:21-22
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” / Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

Psalm 22:16-18
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. / I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me. / They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Psalm 109:25
I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalm 2:1-2
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:


Treasury of Scripture

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

the people.

Psalm 22:12,13,17
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round…

Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Matthew 27:38-43
Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left…

derided.

Luke 16:14
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Genesis 37:19,20
And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh…

Psalm 4:2
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Christ.

Luke 22:67-70
Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: …

Psalm 22:6-8
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people…

Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Jump to Previous
Anointed Beholding Bitter Choice Chosen Christ Derided Fellow God's Others Repeatedly Rulers Save Saved Saviour Scoffed Selection Sneering Something Sport Standing Stood Taunts Uttered Watching
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Anointed Beholding Bitter Choice Chosen Christ Derided Fellow God's Others Repeatedly Rulers Save Saved Saviour Scoffed Selection Sneering Something Sport Standing Stood Taunts Uttered Watching
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.














The people stood watching
This phrase captures the scene of the crucifixion, where a crowd has gathered to witness the events unfolding. The Greek word for "stood" (ἱστάναι, histanai) implies a stationary position, suggesting that the people were not just passing by but were intentionally observing. This reflects the human tendency to be drawn to significant events, even in their most tragic forms. Historically, public executions were communal events, and the presence of the crowd highlights the public nature of Jesus' crucifixion. Theologically, this scene fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:3, where the Messiah is described as "despised and rejected by men."

and the rulers sneered at Him
The term "sneered" (ἐξεμυκτήριζον, exemukterizon) is a strong word indicating mockery and derision. The rulers, likely members of the Sanhedrin or other Jewish leaders, are expressing contempt. This reflects Psalm 22:7, where the suffering servant is mocked by those around him. The rulers' sneering is not just a personal attack but a rejection of Jesus' messianic claims. In a broader sense, it represents the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart that can accompany positions of power and authority.

saying, 'He saved others; let Him save Himself
This statement is laden with irony. The rulers acknowledge Jesus' ability to save others, likely referring to His miracles and acts of healing, yet they challenge Him to save Himself. The Greek word for "save" (σῴζω, sōzō) means to rescue or deliver. Theologically, this challenge misunderstands the nature of Jesus' mission. His purpose was not to save Himself but to offer Himself as a sacrifice for humanity's sins. This moment underscores the paradox of the cross: through apparent weakness and defeat, Jesus accomplishes the ultimate act of salvation.

if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One
The title "Christ" (Χριστός, Christos) means "Anointed One" and is equivalent to the Hebrew "Messiah." The rulers' use of "if" (εἰ, ei) introduces doubt and skepticism about Jesus' identity. "The Chosen One" (ὁ ἐκλεκτός, ho eklektos) emphasizes divine selection and favor, echoing passages like Isaiah 42:1, where God speaks of His chosen servant. This phrase encapsulates the central question of Jesus' identity and mission. From a conservative Christian perspective, this moment is pivotal, as it challenges believers to recognize Jesus as the true Messiah, whose kingship is revealed not through earthly power but through sacrificial love.

(35) And the rulers also with them derided him.--St. Luke uses the generic term for the members of the Sanhedrin, whom St. Matthew particularises as "chief priests, scribes, and elders." The verb is the same as in 16:14, and implies the curled lip and distended nostril of scorn.

He saved others.--The words were, like those of Caiaphas (John 11:50), an unconscious prophecy, in part also an admission of the work that He had done, as in the case of Lazarus, in rescuing others from the power of death.

If he be Christ, the chosen of God.--It may be noted that this is the only passage in the New Testament in which the adjective "chosen," or "elect," is directly applied to Christ. The participle of the verb, is, however, found in the better MSS. of Luke 9:35, and the adjective is used of Him as the "stone, elect and precious," in 1Peter 2:6.

Verse 35. - And the people stood beholding. A hush seems to have fallen over the scene. The crowd of by-standers were awed as they at first silently gazed on the dying form of the great Teacher. What memories must have surged up in the hearts of many of the gazers - memories of his parables, his mighty miracles, his words of love; memories of the raising of Lazarus, and of the day of palms! Such a silent awe-struck contemplation was dangerous, the rulers felt, so they hastened to commence their mockery - "to clear," as Stier remarks, "the stifling air, and deafen the voice which was stirring even in themselves." "Look now," they would cry, "at the end of the Man who said he could do, and pretended to do, such strange, unheard-of things!" They seem soon to have induced many to join in their mocking cries and gestures, and so to break the awful silence.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
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.

people
λαὸς (laos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.

stood
εἱστήκει (heistēkei)
Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.

watching,
θεωρῶν (theōrōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2334: From a derivative of theaomai; to be a spectator of, i.e. Discern, (experience) or intensively (acknowledge).

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

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

rulers
ἄρχοντες (archontes)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 758: Present participle of archo; a first.

sneered at [Him],
ἐξεμυκτήριζον (exemyktērizon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1592: To deride, scoff at, mock greatly. From ek and mukterizo; to sneer outright at.

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

“He saved
ἔσωσεν (esōsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.

others;
Ἄλλους (Allous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. Different.

let Him save
σωσάτω (sōsatō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.

Himself
ἑαυτόν (heauton)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

[He]
οὗτός (houtos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present 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.

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.

Christ
Χριστὸς (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

of God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

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.

Chosen [One].”
ἐκλεκτός (eklektos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1588: From eklegomai; select; by implication, favorite.


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NT Gospels: Luke 23:35 The people stood watching (Luke Lu Lk)
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