But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
Parallel translations
- WEB All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
- KJV And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
- BSB But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.
- NKJV But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
- NASB And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus' acquaintances and the Galilean women watched from a distance. Faithful witnesses observed His death and would attest to it.
Overview
Luke notes that those who knew Jesus, especially the women from Galilee, stood watching the crucifixion. Their presence ensures reliable testimony to His death and prepares for their role at the tomb. These devoted followers, though grieving and at a distance, remained near in love, models of steadfast faithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Luke 8:2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
- Ps 38:11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.
- Luke 23:55The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid.
- Matt 27:55–56Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
- Ps 88:18You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.
- Luke 23:27A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
- Mark 15:47Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.
- Mark 15:40–41There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
- Ps 142:4Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.
- Matt 27:61Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
- John 19:21–27The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘he said, “I am King of the Jews.”’”
- Job 19:13“He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 23:49 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.