Why did Pilate send Jesus to Herod? Study Luke 23 with context, apologetic analysis, and cross-references.
Dr. Lucas D. Shallua Commentary · Luke 23
Pilate sent Jesus to Herod because Jesus was from Galilee, which was under Herod's jurisdiction. Pilate was looking for a way to avoid responsibility. He knew Jesus was innocent, and he hoped Herod would handle the matter. Instead, Herod mocked Jesus and sent Him back. The episode shows the cowardice and complicity of both leaders. They both had the opportunity to release Jesus, and they both failed.
Jesus prays for the forgiveness of those who are crucifying Him. This includes the Roman soldiers, the Jewish leaders, and the crowd. It is a prayer of extraordinary grace. Jesus practices what He preached: love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. The prayer does not automatically save them; they still must repent and believe. But it reveals the heart of Jesus and the nature of the gospel.
The penitent thief was saved by faith. He acknowledged his own guilt and Jesus' innocence. He recognized Jesus as King and asked to be remembered in His kingdom. He had no opportunity to do good works. He was saved by grace through faith. Jesus promised him immediate entry into paradise. This is a powerful example of salvation by grace alone.
The Greek word paradeisos refers to a garden or park. In Jewish thought, it was the place of the righteous dead, a place of comfort and fellowship with God. Jesus uses it to describe the immediate destination of the penitent thief. It is not the final resurrection, but it is a state of blessedness in the presence of God. Paul speaks of being caught up into paradise in 2 Corinthians 12:4. Revelation describes the tree of life in the paradise of God.
The curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the high priest entered only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The tearing from top to bottom signifies that the barrier between God and humanity is removed. Through the death of Christ, all believers have access to the Father. The direction of the tear shows that God did it, not human hands.
Yes. The Romans were experts at execution. They confirmed His death with a spear. Joseph of Arimathea received the body. He was wrapped in linen, placed in a tomb, and sealed with a stone. The women watched. The burial is a historical fact. The death is certain. But so is the resurrection.
Chapter 22 ended with Jesus condemned by the Sanhedrin and denied by Peter. Now He is brought before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. The Sanhedrin could pronounce a death sentence, but they could not carry it out without Roman approval. So Jesus is delivered to the Gentiles — exactly as He predicted. Luke's account is unique in several details: Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas, who happens to be in Jerusalem for the Passover; Jesus speaks to the daughters of Jerusalem on the way to the cross; and He promises paradise to the penitent thief. The chapter moves from the governor's palace to Golgotha to a borrowed tomb. Every scene drips with irony. The King of the Jews is mocked and crucified. The Son of God prays for forgiveness. The centurion confesses what the disciples could not see. The burial by Joseph of Arimathea confirms the reality of Jesus' death. The chapter is a masterclass in theological irony.
Some critics argue that Jesus did not actually die on the cross but merely swooned and was later revived. This is impossible for several reasons. First, Roman soldiers were professionals. They knew how to execute. They confirmed Jesus' death with a spear thrust to the side. Second, the amount of blood and water that flowed from the wound indicates a fatal rupture. Third, Jesus had been scourged, which was often fatal in itself. Fourth, He was wrapped in linen and buried with a large stone sealing the tomb. If He had merely swooned, He would have suffocated in the tomb. Fifth, the disciples were not expecting a resurrection; they were hiding in fear. The most plausible explanation for the empty tomb and the disciples' transformation is that Jesus actually rose from the dead. The account of the penitent thief is also historically plausible. The detail of the two criminals, the mockery of one and the faith of the other, the promise of paradise, and the specific words of Jesus are vivid and specific. The early church preserved this account because it illustrated the radical nature of grace. The most plausible explanation for this account is that it preserves genuine historical memory. The burial by Joseph of Arimathea is also historically significant. Joseph was a member of the council, a man of standing. To ask for the body of a crucified criminal was to identify with Him publicly. The disciples had fled; Joseph stepped forward. The detail of the rock-cut tomb, the linen shroud, and the women watching are all consistent with first-century Jewish burial practices. The most plausible explanation is that it preserves genuine historical memory.
This study preserves the hard questions, explanations, context, apologetic note, and references from Dr. Shallua's Commentary.