Luke 23:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Pilate was quite taken aback. He turned to the Prisoner and asked, “Do you not hear how many are testifying against You?” Yet, Jesus maintained His profound silence. As Pilate felt an increasing sense of sympathy for the Prisoner, he sought a means to distance himself from this challenging matter of justice. He intended to exploit the situation to transfer the Prisoner to the authorities from His birthplace. When he heard the crowd mention Galilee and confirmed, “Is He a Galilean?” he resolved to send Jesus to Herod Antipas, the regional governor present in Jerusalem for Passover. Pilate hoped this would appease the ambitious king with whom he had a strained relationship due to recent events involving the Galileans in the temple, while also allowing him to extricate himself from a complicated situation.

Despite this regulation, it was often disregarded. Pilate himself, acting without consulting the Galilean governor, had previously executed many Galileans due to riots sparked by his interference with the temple treasury. Herod felt aggrieved by this unlawful intrusion into his jurisdiction, and despite Pilate's later justifications, their relationship remained strained. By adhering to the law, Pilate aimed to escape his current ambiguous and uncomfortable situation while simultaneously making amends to Herod for his recent transgressions. Thus, Jesus Christ was sent back to Herod, effectively transferring him from one court—where he was held—to another, at his place of origin.

Pilate may also have hoped for a favorable verdict from Herod, intending to fortify his own position against the ongoing accusations from the leaders of the people, thereby seeking to save the Lord from His accusers. This context explains Pilate's acknowledgment of Herod's concurrence regarding Christ.

Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during this time, had come from his Galilean capital of Tiberias to observe the Passover feast, as prescribed by the Mosaic law. Herod was overjoyed to encounter Jesus, this same Herod Antipas who had previously executed John the Baptist, and upon hearing of Christ's works, he harbored the mistaken belief that John had risen from the dead. His eagerness to see the Lord stemmed from his long-standing desire to witness the miraculous deeds of Jesus, a curiosity that had likely intensified as reports of Jesus’ miracles spread, even though the Lord eluded him previously. Herod anticipated witnessing some wonder from Jesus—not out of genuine faith, but perhaps as a mere spectator seeking entertainment, much like watching a magician perform tricks.

Herod posed many inquiries to Jesus, yet the specifics of these questions are not detailed. It can be surmised that Herod's questioning reflected his character, and notably, Jesus felt no obligation to respond. There is little purpose in engaging with someone who is not genuinely seeking wisdom; there is a wisdom in silence when addressing those who are inattentive. The murmuring accusations from the rulers of the people as they accompanied Jesus from Pilate to Herod reflected their desperation to maintain influence over the situation. Faced with the Lord's refusal to perform miracles and answer his inquiries, Herod, rather than being swayed by their claims, acted out of wounded pride, treating Jesus with disdain. The account notes that Herod dressed the Lord in a bright garment before sending Him back to Pilate, an act of mockery that signified shame and ridicule.

The white attire was emblematic, as candidates for honor in Roman society would don such garments, and Jewish kings wore lavishly decorated white robes for grand occasions. By adorning Jesus in such a manner and returning Him to Pilate, Herod effectively portrayed Him as a trivial claimant to the Jewish throne, indirectly communicating to Pilate that this supposed king deserved not punishment but derision. Pilate grasped this implication, as indicated in the continuation of the narrative. The reconciliation between Pilate and Herod, previously marked by animosity, likely stemmed from a shared desire to navigate political tensions, although their enmity and their lack of true vendetta against the Lord differed significantly from the hostility harbored by the people’s rulers. Pilate's act of courtesy toward Herod by sending Jesus back to him was a gesture meant to restore their relationship.

Thus, in Jerusalem, He was considered to hail from Galilee (John 7:41, 52), where He was even directly identified as a Galilean (Matthew 26:69). This newly revealed detail prompted the governor to reconsider his approach. At that moment, Herod Antipas, the regional ruler of Galilee, was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Upon realizing the accused was from Herod's territory, Pilate opted to send Jesus to this ruler, not to evade the responsibility of adjudicating the case, for Herod could not contend with the authority of Caesar's representative and claim the right to make the final ruling. Likewise, Pilate could not relinquish the privileges of his position in favor of a subordinate tetrarch. Adhering to Roman practices that called for meticulous care in criminal proceedings (Acts 25:16), Pilate deemed it essential to present the accused to the Galilean governor, hoping to gain comprehensive and reliable insight regarding the prisoner from Herod. Given his limited knowledge of the matter, the governor anticipated that this information could potentially benefit the accused and aid him in defending the innocent against the false charges leveled by his opponents (Luke 23:15). Ultimately, Pilate also hoped to mend the relationship between Herod, a friend of the Romans, and himself, as the tetrarch and the Roman governor were at odds (23:12). For these reasons, the Lord Jesus Christ was sent to Herod, restrained and under guard, accompanied by His malicious accusers—the chief priests and scribes, along with other members of the Sanhedrin—seeking to observe the proceedings there as well.