Luke 23:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

NIV: That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

NASB: And so Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for previously, they had been enemies toward each other.

CSB: That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been enemies.

NLT: (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)

KJV: And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

NKJV: That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, is of Arab and Edomite descent but nominally observes Judaism. He is the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Pilate is a Roman military officer and governor of Judea. Antipas is sympathetic to the Jews; Pilate's job is to keep order and collect taxes.

Dr. Darrell Bock, in his commentary Luke: 9:51—24:53, gives several potential reasons that Herod Antipas and Pilate might have been enemies.

Pilate hung shields in Herod's palace. The act displayed the fact that Antipas is subject to Rome, but the Jewish people appealed to Tiberius who ordered Pilate to move them to a pagan temple in Caesarea. Philo recorded this in Embassy to Gaius 38.299–305.

Pilate apparently killed a group of Galileans who had come to Jerusalem to sacrifice (Luke 13:1). We don't have any other information about this, but as Galileans, they would have been Antipas's subjects.

Emperor Tiberius's lieutenant had been Sejanus who was known for his cruelty and his hatred of Jews. It's possible once Sejanus was dead, Pilate felt free to be more open to a friendship with Antipas. This theory, however, doesn't seem to mesh with Pilate's long-time good relationship with Caiaphas the high priest.

Another theory is when Pilate wanted money from the temple treasury to build a waterway to Jerusalem, the Jews rebelled, and Pilate scattered assassins around a crowd who killed the Jews with daggers. Some think the Jews were Galileans and Antipas was angry Pilate killed his people, but it's unknown if that's true.

Whatever the cause, Pilate's invitation to have a say in Jesus' fate seems to thaw old animosity. Antipas humiliates Jesus but returns Him to Pilate with the same decision: Jesus is innocent (Luke 23:14–15). This makes their own guilt even more egregious as they fulfill Psalm 2:1–2:

"Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed…"

In Luke 23:6–12, Pilate discovers Jesus is from Galilee. So, he sends Him to Herod Antipas who is also in Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin charged Jesus with crimes which Pilate thinks are meaningless. Pilate hopes Antipas can uncover the truth (Luke 23:1–5). Antipas is delighted to have a chance to speak with Jesus. But he becomes disappointed when Jesus refuses to speak—even as council members shout their accusations. Antipas returns Jesus to Pilate, and the two become fast friends, although Pilate still has the Sanhedrin to deal with. Luke is the only gospel writer to include Jesus' trial before Antipas.

Luke 23 records the remaining trials, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. He is examined by the Roman governor and the local appointed King, neither of whom are interested in passing a death sentence. Local religious leaders incite the crowd, pressuring the governor, Pilate, to authorize crucifixion. Jesus accepts the faith of another condemned man and dies. Joseph of Arimathea asks for Jesus body and buries it in a tomb cut from rock.

Luke 23 records Jesus' civil trials, crucifixion, and burial. The members of the Sanhedrin have put Jesus through three trials in their attempt to convince Pilate He's a threat (Luke 22:47–71). Their case is weak, but their political influence is powerful enough to force Pilate's hand. Jesus is executed. Three days after Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus, Jesus reappears on the road to Emmaus where He explains Messianic prophecies in Jewish Scriptures. After spending time with His followers, Jesus ascends into heaven (Luke 24) and the disciples build the church (Acts).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.