Jesus Brought Before Pilate And Herod
JESUS BROUGHT BEFORE PILATE AND HEROD
LUKE 23:1-12
The Sanhedrin had accused Jesus of blasphemy, but they wanted a clearer, political charge under Roman law.
Verses 1-5. Pilate, as a procurator, was directly responsible to Tiberius himself. Arrogant and heavy-handed conduct of his office had left him vulnerable to threats of complaint to Caesar. Above all, Caesar wanted peace in Palestine. It was a vital corridor of communication between the valleys of the Nile and the Euphrates. Egypt and Syria were provinces of immense importance. Palestine linked them. Pilate would undoubtedly have been commanded to cherish the collaborators, especially the Sadducean priesthood, to handle the rank and file with circumspection, and to manage relations with the petty kings of the area with wisdom. Pilate had done none of these things, and his failure was known to the grim old emperor. Pilate could not afford another complaint. It was obviously the best policy for those who sought to be rid of Christ to represent him as a subversive agitator. Note the development in the nature of the charge—see Mark 14:57-58,61-64. In spite of this Pilate actually pronounced acquittal (23:4). At this point he could have played the man, but clamor reached the stratum of cowardice in him and he turned with relief to the thought that the tetrarch of Galilee might take the case off his hands. He could also demonstrate unusual courtesy.
23:6-12. Herod was in Jerusalem for the feast—he kept up appearances. He had once listened gladly to John (Mark 6:20), and had John’s murder heavily on his conscience. Some curiosity made him eager to see the prophet from Galilee, perhaps to silence his fear that John might be alive again (Mark 6:14). Herod had known his day of opportunity. He had openly chosen his vicious course. Christ does not speak to those who have set their will against him. But Herod was too practiced a diplomat to be caught by Pilate’s trick. This was the Roman’s responsibility. John had been burden enough on his murderer. He was not prepared to take measure against a Galilean with half Galilee in Jerusalem for the feast. It is idle to try to force someone else to make decisions which we ourselves should make.
Notes In John’s account Pilate appears to disconcert the priests by opening the trial in legal fashion—perhaps under the influence of his wife. 23:11: “gorgeous apparel”—a white festal gown to add to the mockery. 23:12: see 13:1. For this entire passage, see 1 Peter 2:21-23.