Luk 23:6-12 | NETfull | STEP | Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.

Luke 23:6-12

Jesus Brought Before Herod

6 Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 When ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} he learned that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction, ^{▼▼ Learning that Jesus was from Galilee and therefore part of Herod’s jurisdiction, Pilate decided to rid himself of the problem by sending him to Herod.} he sent him over to Herod, ^{▼▼ Herod was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. See the note on Herod in 3:1.} who also happened to be in Jerusalem ^{▼▼ Herod would probably have come to Jerusalem for the feast, although his father was only half Jewish (Josephus, Ant. 14.15.2 [14.403]). Josephus does mention Herod’s presence in Jerusalem during a feast (Ant. 18.5.3 [18.122]).} ^{▼▼ For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; Journey of Paul map 1-F4; Journey of Paul map 2-F4; Journey of Paul map 3-F4; Journey of Paul map 4-F4.} at that time. 8 When ^{▼▼ Here δέ (de) has not been translated.} Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform ^{▼▼ Grk “to see some sign performed by him.” Here the passive construction has been translated as an active one in keeping with contemporary English style.} some miraculous sign. ^{▼▼ Herod, hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign, seems to have treated Jesus as a curiosity (cf. 9:7–9).} 9 So ^{▼▼ Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the previous statements in the narrative about Herod’s desire to see Jesus.} Herod ^{▼▼ Grk “he”; the referent (Herod) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} questioned him at considerable length; Jesus ^{▼▼ Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the experts in the law ^{▼▼ Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.} were there, vehemently accusing him. ^{▼▼ Luke portrays the Jewish leadership as driving events toward the cross by vehemently accusing Jesus.} 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, ^{▼▼ This is a continuation of the previous Greek sentence, but because of its length and complexity, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying “then” to indicate the sequence of events.} dressing him in elegant clothes, ^{▼▼ This mockery involved putting elegant royal clothes on Jesus, either white or purple (the colors of royalty). This was no doubt a mockery of Jesus’ claim to be a king.} Herod ^{▼▼ Grk “he”; the referent (Herod) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, ^{▼▼ Herod and Pilate became friends with each other. It may be that Pilate’s change of heart was related to the death of his superior, Sejanus, who had a reputation for being anti-Jewish. To please his superior, Pilate may have ruled the Jews with insensitivity. Concerning Sejanus, see Philo, Embassy 24 (160–61) and Flaccus 1 (1).} for prior to this they had been enemies. ^{▼▼ Grk “at enmity with each other.”}