*Luke 23:1-12
Jesus is brought before Pilate by the chief priests who accuse him of political rebellion, but Pilate finds no reason to condemn him.
- Jesus Brought Before Pilate:
- Early in the morning, Jesus is taken from the high priest’s house to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
- The Jewish leaders present accusations against Jesus, claiming He incites the people, forbids paying taxes to Caesar, and declares Himself as a king.
- Pilate’s Initial Interrogation:
- Pilate questions Jesus about the claim of being the King of the Jews, to which Jesus responds affirmatively, though His kingdom is not of this world.
- After questioning, Pilate finds no grounds for charging Jesus and declares Him innocent of the accusations.
- Jesus Sent to Herod:
- Upon learning that Jesus is from Galilee, Pilate sends Him to Herod Antipas, who is in Jerusalem at the time and has jurisdiction over that region.
- Herod, initially pleased to see Jesus, hopes to witness a miracle and questions Him at length.
- Jesus does not respond to Herod’s questions, leading Herod and his soldiers to mock Him, dress Him in an elegant robe, and send Him back to Pilate.
- Pilate and Herod’s Reconciliation:
- Although Pilate and Herod had been enemies, their mutual involvement in Jesus’ case brings them to a form of reconciliation.
Luke 23:1-12 reminds us to stand for truth, even when others twist it. Jesus was innocent, yet He was falsely accused and mistreated. Instead of defending Himself with anger, He stayed calm and trusted God. We can apply this by choosing honesty and integrity, even when it’s easier to go along with what’s wrong. When people misunderstand or judge us unfairly, we don’t have to fight back in frustration—we can trust God to handle the situation. By staying patient, truthful, and faithful, we follow Jesus’ example in difficult moments.
Luke 23:1-12 (WEB)
23:1 The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”He answered him, “So you say.”4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”5 But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.”6 But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11 Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.