Luke 23:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When Pilate inquired, Are Thou the King of the Jews? the Lord’s reply was, Thou sayest. This response can be interpreted in two ways. One interpretation affirms, I am indeed the King of the Jews; you have spoken the truth. Alternatively, it may imply, I do not speak; you proclaim, you hold the power and you speak. In contrast, Herod, as a persistent scoffer, chose not to reply at all. Indeed, as Isaiah prophesized (Isaiah 3:4, 12), the offspring of the wicked, the sons of the lawless, specifically the Jews of that era, were oppressed by collectors and ruled over by mockers.

Yet for those aligned with Satan, such miracles hold no value; thus, they are not granted to them (Matthew 4:6). The Lord refrained from disclosing to Herod the depths of his sinful existence, his depravity, or his wrongdoing against the herald of repentance, as well as the impending judgment that awaited him, even in this life. Why did He choose not to speak? Because the Preacher of Repentance had already imparted much on these matters to him, though it bore no fruit. The Savior instructed His disciples, 'Do not cast your pearls before swine' (Matt. 7:6).

Initially, Antipas established Sepphoris as his principal city, but like his father, he had a penchant for extravagant architecture. Under Emperor Tiberius, he constructed a new city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, naming it Tiberias in the emperor's honor. This city became his primary residence, but he traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast and likely stayed in his father’s opulent palace, located in the northwest part of Zion. In this setting, Jesus Christ was brought before him, and one can imagine Herod's superstitious intrigue upon hearing of the miraculous feats performed by this Prophet, whom he regarded as perhaps the specter of the slain John, brought to him for judgment. The Evangelist records that ‘Herod, when he saw Jesus, rejoiced greatly.’ The slayer of the Baptist was eager to see Jesus perform a miracle to quench his curiosity. However, the only response came in the form of silence to all his inquiries.

Additionally, the Evangelist notes that Pilate and Herod formed an alliance after this event, suggesting that Pilate aimed to end their previous discord by showing courtesy to Herod, treating Jesus respectfully as a guest during His brief stay. It is reasonable to conclude that Pilate hoped for a favorable opinion from Herod regarding Jesus’ case, thereby bolstering his own position against the unyielding accusations of the religious leaders and aiming to release Jesus from His accusers. This is indicated by his statement about Herod’s agreement with his assessment of Christ.

Herod, being present in Jerusalem during that time, was a Jewish ruler who had traveled from his Galilean capital in Tiberias to partake in the Passover feast, adhering to the commandments of the Mosaic Law. He was overjoyed at seeing the Lord, which was noteworthy because he was the very Herod Antipas who had executed John the Baptist and, upon hearing of the works of Jesus, mistakenly speculated that John had been raised from the dead. Herod’s significant eagerness to see Jesus stemmed from the reports circulating about Jesus’ miraculous deeds, a curiosity that had grown over time. However, the Lord chose to avoid fulfilling this curiosity. Herod also looked forward to witnessing a miracle from Him; had he truly believed in Jesus as the genuine Miracle Worker, it is reasonable to assume that his faith would have been affirmed long ago. But could this corrupt monarch—a murderer of the Baptist—have had sincere faith in the Galilean Prophet? More likely, he viewed Jesus as a sorcerer capable of conjuring wondrous feats through cunning means, desiring merely to witness such trickery. However, his expectations were misguided; such vain hopes were not met by Christ. He sought to observe a miracle not for the sake of belief but to satisfy his spectacle-seeking curiosity, akin to how spectators marvel at magicians who appear to perform impossible feats.

Herod presented numerous questions to Jesus, though the Evangelist does not specify them. The nature of his inquiries can be surmised from both Herod's notorious character and the fact that the Lord found no need to answer him. Why should the Word respond to one who did not seek divine instruction? As it is written, "What need is there to cast beads before swine?" (Matt. 7:6). In such instances, silence is often the most fitting response. Speaking unhelpfully to the inattentive can lead only to greater condemnation.

The accusers of Christ persistently followed Him from Pilate to Herod, vigilant not to lose sight of Him, fearing a potential loss of favor among the rulers. Hence, they strenuously pressed their accusations before Herod just as they had done before Pilate. However, their endeavors met with disappointing results, for it was not their claims that swayed Herod but his own wounded pride, stemming from the Lord's refusal to perform any miracles before him or to acknowledge his queries. The Evangelist records only a singular act of mockery: he dressed Jesus in a brilliant (or white) robe and returned Him to Pilate. Such robes were traditionally worn by candidates aspiring for high office; Roman generals donned them in battle, and Jewish kings wore white garments on formal occasions, often embellished with precious stones. In donning such apparel and sending Jesus back to Pilate, Herod derisively portrayed Him as a laughable aspirant to the Jewish crown, indirectly suggesting to Pilate that such an impostor deserved ridicule rather than a capital sentence. This interpretation seems to have been understood by Pilate, as evidenced in the subsequent narrative.

The reconciliation between Pilate and Herod, contrasted with their prior enmity, is unspecified; it may have been influenced by past events, such as Pilate's harsh treatment of the Galileans, who were subjects of Herod. Their newly forged camaraderie did not arise from a shared animosity toward the Lord, unlike the relentless hatred displayed by the rulers of the people. Instead, Pilate’s gesture of courtesy towards Herod—sending Jesus to him as a Galilean—served to mend their relationship.