Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 23:48

"And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts." — Luke 23:48 (ASV)

After Jesus’ death, Luke calls on the centurion as a witness to Jesus’ uniqueness. His words in his gospel emphasize, as in the trial scene, the innocence of Jesus (cf. comments on vv.4, 22). The crowd standing around was deeply affected, as were Jesus’ own followers, who endured their inexpressible grief standing at a distance. Luke gave the names of some of these women from Galilee in 8:3.