PILATE AND HEROD

Passage: Luke 23:1-12

Key verse: 2

NIV

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.(A) 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.(B) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar(C) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”(D)

3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”(E)

5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee(F) and has come all the way here.”

6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.(G) 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(H) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.(I) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.(J) 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,(K) they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends(L)—before this they had been enemies.

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ESV

Jesus Before Pilate

23 (A)Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man (B)misleading our nation and (C)forbidding us to give tribute to (D)Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, (E)a king.” 3 (F)And Pilate asked him, (G)“Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, (H)“You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, (I)“I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, (J)from Galilee even to this place.”

Jesus Before Herod

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to (K)Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, (L)for he had long desired to see him, (M)because he had heard about him, and he was hoping (N)to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers (O)treated him with contempt and (P)mocked him. Then, (Q)arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And (R)Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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1. He claims to be Christ, a king (1-5)

Before Pilate the Jewish leaders accused Jesus of sedition. They said that he opposed paying taxes (a lie--see Lk 2

:25), and that he claimed to be a king. When Pilate asked him if he were king of the Jews, he said, 'Yes.' He affirmed his Messiahship and his spiritual kingship. The revolution he proclaimed was spiritual. Pilate knew this, and tried to set him free.

2. Pilate and Herod become friends (6-12)

When Pilate heard that Jesus was from Galilee, he found a chance to dodge responsibility. He sent Jesus to Herod. Herod was bored and tried to make Jesus entertain him. Finally, to mock both Jesus and the Jews, he dressed Jesus in an elegant robe and sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate both knew that the Jews were lying, and neither of them wanted to be responsible for condemning Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, let your revolution take place in me and let your kingdom come in my heart.

One Word: Jesus is my Christ and King