Lk. 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.
Lk. 23:7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
Pilate wished to release Yeshua, but he was being intimidated by the crowd. Finally a comment made by the Jewish leaders themselves presented Pilate with an opportunity of getting out of the dilemma. As the Jewish leaders presented even more accusations, they finally made a statement in passing that Yeshua was from Galilee. Galilee was under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, who happened to be in Jerusalem at this time for Passover. Thus by sending Yeshua to Herod, Pilate saw that he would be able to escape responsibility And with that the first phase of the civil trial came to an end.
Lk. 23:8 Now when Herod saw Yeshua, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Lk. 23:9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.
Lk. 23:10 And he chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.Lk. 23:11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.
Lk. 23:12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for before that they had been at enmity with each other.
The source of the enmity between Pilate and Herod Antipas arises out of the fact that when Pilate first became procurator he erected Roman shields on the Temple walls in violation of strict Jewish laws that did not allow images in the Temple precincts. And so Herod Antipas sent a letter of complaint to Caesar Tiberius, and Tiberius ordered the shields removed . Because of the incident, Herod Antipas and Pilate were at enmity, for Herod felt that Pilate didn’t recognize his authority. By sending Yeshua to Herod, Pilate showed Herod that he did recognize his authority over Galilee. Furthermore, Pilate knew well that Herod desired to see Yeshua, so he gave him the opportunity. As a result of all this, the two became friends. But, they did so at Yeshua’s expense.
Herod Antipas’ wife name was Herodias. Earlier she had tricked Herod into having Yochanan HaMatbil (John the Baptist)) beheaded. In the year 39 C.E. she instigated Herod into going to Rome to request the title of king. At Rome, he was deposed by Emperor Caligula and then banished by the Senate to Gaul. There Herod and Herodias died in poverty.
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