Luke 23:48
And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
Luke 23:48 describes the crowd's response to the supernatural signs at the crucifixion, when darkness covered Calvary, the earth shook, and vivid flashes of lightning broke from the cloud to reveal the cross and the crucified Redeemer. The spectators who had come together to that sight were seized with terror by the darkness and earthquake and began leaving the scene and groping their way back toward the city.
A nameless terror fell upon the throng, so that cursing and reviling stopped in the midst of half-uttered sentences. Men, women, and children fell prostrate upon the earth, then beat their breasts in grief and fear and wailed as they tried to feel their way back to the city in darkness. Priests, rulers, scribes, executioners, and the mob alike thought their time of retribution had come when the lightnings revealed the cross. After a while some of them whispered that Jesus would now come down from the cross.
As they went they struck their breasts and acknowledged that an innocent person had been murdered. Though they had accepted the priests' false accusations and joined in mocking Him, they became convinced that the charges against Jesus were false and that He was no pretender. The signs led the people to wonder whether the innocent man they had seen killed truly was the Son of God. Their consciences accused them of wrongdoing and guilt, leaving many who had joined the crowd deeply changed in spirit. Some of them later became converts to Christ when Peter preached at Pentecost and the meaning of the cross was explained.