Luke 23:54 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)54 This happened on the Day of Preparation [for the Passover Festival], as the Sabbath day was about to begin [i.e., shortly before 6 PM on Friday]. See the chapterMore versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 176954 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. See the chapterAmplified Bible - Classic Edition54 It was the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], and the Sabbath was dawning (approaching). See the chapterAmerican Standard Version (1901)54 And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on. See the chapterCommon English Bible54 It was the Preparation Day for the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was quickly approaching. See the chapterCatholic Public Domain Version54 And it was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. See the chapter |
Now it was the Day of Preparation [Note: This was the day before the Passover Festival began, and fell on a Friday that year], and the Jews did not permit bodies to remain on a cross over the Sabbath day. (Besides, that Sabbath day was a special day [i.e., since it was both the Passover and the regular weekly Sabbath, as well]). So, they asked Pilate to have Jesus’ and the criminals’ legs broken [i.e., to speed up their deaths] and then have their bodies taken away.
So, they placed Jesus’ body there, for it was the Day of Preparation and that was the closest grave site. [Note: Since this was the day before the Passover Festival, and the next day was also the regular weekly Sabbath, they had to bury the body before sundown to comply with Jewish restrictions against working on a Sabbath day].
Now it was about six o’clock in the morning [Note: This was according to Roman time, but if Jewish time were meant, it would have been 12 noon] on the Day of Preparation for the Passover Festival. [Note: This would be the day before the Passover Festival]. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Look, [here is] your king!”