Luke 23:12

And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. For the exposition, see the notes at John 18:28....

12._Pilate and Herod became friends. _From the fact that Christ was the occasion of reconciling two wicked men, let us learn how much the children of God, and religion itself, are disdained by the world. It is probable that, in consequence of their own ambition by which both were actuated, some dispute arose about their jurisdiction. But whatever may have been the origin of the quarrel, neither of them would have yielded to the other the smallest portion of his own rights in worldly matters; yet because Christ is set at naught, _Pilate _easily gives him up to _Herod, _and _Herod, _in his turn, sends him back to _Pilate. _(255) Thus in our own day we see, that when the judges enter into disputes with each other about robbers and other malefactors, the children of God are contemptuously thrown aside as if they were the merest refuse. (256) Hatred of religio

6-12 Herod had heard many things of Jesus in Galilee, and out of curiosity longed to see him. The poorest beggar that asked a miracle for the relief of his necessity, was never denied; but this proud prince, who asked for a miracle only to gratify his curiosity, is refused. He might have seen Christ and his wondrous works in Galilee, and would not, therefore it is justly said, Now he would see them, and shall not. Herod sent Christ again to Pilate: the friendships of wicked men are often formed by union in wickedness. They agree in little, except in enmity to God, and contempt of Christ....

Verse Luke 23:12. _PILATE AND HEROD WERE MADE FRIENDS_] I do not find any account of the cause of the enmity which subsisted between Herod and Pilate given by ancient authors; and the conjectures of the moderns on the subject should be considered as mere guesses. It is generally supposed that this enmity arose from what is related Luke 13, of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate hath mingled with that of their sacrifices. These were Herod's subjects, and Pilate seems to have fallen on them at the time they were offering sacrifices to God at the temple. Wicked men cannot love one another: this belongs to the disciples of Christ. But when Christ, his truth, or his followers are to be persecuted, for this purpose the wicked unite their counsels and their influence. The Moabites and Ammonites, who were enemies among themselv...

MADE FRIENDS TOGETHER ... - What had been the cause of their quarrel is unknown. It is commonly supposed that it was Pilate’s slaying the Galileans in Jerusalem, as related in Luke 13:1. The occasion of their reconciliation seems to have been the civility and respect which Pilate showed to Herod in this case. It was not because they were united in “hating” Jesus, as is often the case with wicked people, for Pilate was certainly desirous of releasing him, and “both” considered him merely as an object of ridicule and sport. It is true, however, that wicked people, at variance in other things, are often united in opposing and ridiculing Christ and his followers; and that enmities of long standing are sometimes made up, and the most opposite characters brought together, simply to oppose religion. Compare...

EXPOSITION LUKE 23:1 _The trial before Pilate_:_ First examination._ LUKE 23:1 AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE OF THEM AROSE, AND LED HIM UNTO PILATE. The Sanhedrin had now formally condemned Jesus to death. They were, however, precluded by the Roman regulations then in force from carrying out their judgment. A capital sentence in Judaea could only be inflicted as the result of a decision by the Roman court. The Sanhedrin supposed, and as we shall see rightly, that the judgment they had pronounced would speedily be confirmed by the Roman judge. The Sanhedrin condemnation to death was, however, from the Jewish standpoint, illegal. In capital cases judgment could not be legally pronounced on the day of trial. But in the case of J

AND THE SAME DAY PILATE AND HEROD WERE MADE FRIENDS TOGETHER,.... For it pleased Herod, that Pilate should show such a regard to his authority and power, as to send one that belonged to his jurisdiction to take cognizance of his case; and especially as it was a person that was much talked of, and he had long wanted to see; and Pilate, on the other hand, was pleased with Herod, that though he was one that was under his jurisdiction, and so had a right of trying the cause, and either absolve or condemn, yet chose not to use this his power, but referred the case to the Roman governor: FOR BEFORE THEY WERE AT ENMITY BETWEEN THEMSELVES; it may be on account of the Galilaeans, the subjects of Herod, whom Pilate had slain, whilst they were sacrificing at Jerusalem, Luke 13:1, which Herod might resent, as an infringement upon his authority and power; for had they been ever so deserving

Luke 23:1. _And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate._ Our Lord had been taken to the tribunal of Annas and of Caiaphas, and sow the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate. The first two tribunals were ecclesiastical and religious. There they charged him with crimes against the law. Now they take him to Pilate, and bring accusations against him, concerning Caesar and the Roman Government. «The whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate.» Luke 23:2. _And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King._ A wily charge. It was the duty of the ruler of the province to protect the province from any rebellion against Caesar; so

CHAPTER 23 _ 1. The son of man before Pilate and Herod. (Luke 23:1)_ 2. Pilate Yields to the People's Will; Barabbas Freed and the Son of man Condemned. (Luke 23:13) 3. The Crucifixion of the Son Of Man. (Luke 23:27) 4. The Penitent Thief. (Luke 23:39) 5. The Death of the Son of Man. (Luke 23:44) 6. The Testimony of the Centurion. (Luke 23:47) 7. The Burial. ...

PILATE, HEROD, AND JESUS (Lk. only). The historicity of this incident has been questioned on two grounds. (1) There was not time for it before the Crucifixion at 9 A.M. But the Crucifixion may have been really nearer noon. (2) It seems made (_cf._ Luke 23:8) to connect with Luke 9:9. This is not a strong argument. For a defence of the story, see A. W. Verrall in JThS, April 1909 (x. 321). Lk. may have found the story in some very early form of the Gospel of Peter and used it as emphasising the innocence of Jesus, the goodwill of Pilate, and the insults of the Jewish (rather than the Roman) ruler and his guard. The Herod is Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, and therefore Jesus'sovereign; he may have been in Jerusalem for the Passover. Jesus is silent when questioned, as Mk. ...