Was Jesus Really Scourged with 39 Stripes?
*Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of Christ’s crucifixion, which may be triggering for some readers.
Director Mel Gibson received harsh critiques for some graphic and violent scenes in the movie, The Passion of the Christ. His depiction of Jesus’ flogging was brutal and difficult to watch. But as horrific as these scenes were, they still couldn’t portray the actual savagery of what the Son of Man's body experienced. We can never fully imagine our Savior's suffering for our sins. The narrative in the Bible and descriptions of crucifixion on websites can't accurately convey the torment Jesus endured. Not just the physical pain but the spiritual weight of paying for the sin of every person who has ever lived or ever will live.
The Arrest
After the Messiah shared the Passover meal with His disciples, they all went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here, their Master was arrested. He was taken to the high priest's house, where He was tried for blasphemy and physically abused before He even got to Pilate.
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?... Then, seizing him, they led him to the high priest's house. (Luke 22:52, 54 NIV)
The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" And they said many other insulting things to him." (Luke 22:63-65)
The Prince of Peace was turned over to Pilate by the religious Jews who were so jealous of Him that murder was their solution (John 11:48).
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans on how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. (Matthew 27:1-2)
When Pilate suggested this prisoner be released in honor of a tradition, these religious hypocrites encouraged the crowd to demand crucifixion instead.
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. (Matthew 27:20)
The Scourging
Before He was nailed to a cross, Jesus was violently scourged by one or two Roman soldiers. The torturous instrument used was a flagrum. This weapon consisted of leather straps with pieces of bone and metal attached to the ends of each thong. He was tied to a post and stripped, and the heavy hand of a soldier struck His back, face, and loins. These hooks pulled against His skin until it was ripped from the bones. The blood loss from the whipping that took place was enough to weaken a person before they were executed. Flogging was so vicious by the time the punishment was over, strips of skin could be hanging from the body.
The Early Church historian Eusebius wrote about scourging: “The veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels of the victim were open to exposure.” In the War of the Jews 303-304, Jewish historian Josephus stated: "Hereupon our rulers supposing, as the case proved to be, that this was a sort of divine fury in the man, brought him to the Roman procurator; where he was whipped till his bones were laid bare."
Many times, Christ's scourging is described as Him receiving thirty-nine stripes. However, as we look at his treatment, we can see that the thirty-nine stripes rule was part of the Old Testament law given to Moses.
If the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves, but the judge must not impose more than forty lashes. If the guilty party is flogged more than that, your fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes. (Deuteronomy 25:2-3)
These commandments were given to punish a criminal, but the sentence contained some mercy. The law stated to halt a beating against an Israelite at forty lashes. The Jews added the part about stopping at thirty-nine so they couldn't accidentally break this rule. This was demonstrated against Paul as he was persecuted by the Jews who disagreed with his preaching about the risen Christ.
Five times, I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. (2 Corinthians 11:24)
Romans scourged Jesus. They didn't observe Jewish Law. They had no reverence for Jewish law. These heartless soldiers would have beaten Him as many times as they wanted to.
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they slapped him in the face. (John 19:1-3)
I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6)
In Roman eyes, he was a criminal trying to make Himself God in the place of Caesar. They saw an itinerant desert preacher. He was another prisoner they could torment for entertainment. Flogging could have been a daily occurrence Depending on the number of people the Romans arrested. The ones who whipped Jesus saw no difference between Him and those who were truly guilty. Before our Lord was even crucified, he was so bloodied and beaten he was not recognized as human. Remember, he had also been beaten by the temple guards when He stood before the Sanhedrin. Parts of His beard were plucked out.
Many were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond any human being, and his form marred beyond human likeness. (Isaiah 52:14)
A purple robe covered the multitude of lashes that scraped across His body, and the soldiers laid upon His back in mock worship. The blood dripping from His skin would have adhered to the cloth. When they ripped the robe off, the wounds could have reopened, causing more suffering and blood loss.
The Crucifixion
Jesus was forced to carry the crossbeam that would attach to the execution pole. Once they arrived at Golgotha, they pushed Him down to land on his back, where exposed muscle and bone rubbed against the rough wood. Soldiers stretched His arms wide and hammered nails into His wrists and ankles to attach His body to the stake. We can see how callous these members of Caesar's army were as they gambled for this innocent Man's clothes while His blood dripped to the ground from the cross (Matthew 27:35). While the Son of God hung dying, Satan taunted Him. This evil minion thought he had won.
Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me; a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. (Psalm 22:12-17)
If the devil had known the outcome, he would not have tempted the Jews to crucify the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8). But this was not the end. The Father's plan defeated the fallen angel, and salvation was purchased for all humankind.
The Victory
On the third day, an earthquake shook the ground, and the stone rolled away from the grave. The Roman soldiers guarding the tomb trembled in fear. It makes one wonder if these could have been the ones who knelt before him in mockery and escorted Him to Calvary. Could they be the same ones who drove the nails into His wrists and ankles? Were they the ones who stripped His back of flesh? We can be filled with gratitude on Easter and every day of our lives because the Light of the world defeated darkness, death, hell, and the grave. He was victorious, and He gave that victory to us. Our Redeemer died because He willingly gave up His life. No one could have killed him if He had not released His life into the Father's hands (Luke 23:46).
But he was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
We can remember that each of these wounds was inflicted against Him for our benefit. Was Jesus scourged with only thirty-nine stripes? The torturers thrashed the flagrum against His body, not thirty-nine times, but over and over and over again. It is from these wounds that we can receive our healing. The Lamb of God took upon Himself suffering to take suffering away from us. The Word became flesh (John 1:14) so He could offer Himself for the sins of the whole world, but each individual must decide to receive that offering. There is no such thing as blanket salvation. We are only born again when we admit we are sinners and invite Christ's cleansing power into our lives.
If you don't know Him as your Savior, please don't wait any longer to accept His sacrifice for you. As we ponder the suffering the Lord experienced, we can celebrate His resurrection with a new awareness of His love for each of us (John 3:16, Hebrews 12:2-3). Rejoice, for Christ arose from the grave (Matthew 28:6). He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And He is coming again! Are you ready?
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him,” and all the peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
Photo Credit: Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/wwing
Originally published March 29, 2025.
