The word "Galilee" gave Pilate an idea. He asked if Jesus was a Galilean and, finding he fell under Herod's jurisdiction, sent him over. Herod happened to be in JerusalempublicCultureHerod happened to be in JerusalemHerod Antipas — son of Herod the Great, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea from 4 BC to AD 39 — would have stayed at the Hasmonean (Maccabean) palace during Passover. Philo (Embassy to Gaius 299-305) documents prior conflict between Pilate and Herod over votive shields in Jerusalem. The administrative referral (ἀνέπεμψεν) is a formal legal transfer between officials. for the festival.

Herod was delighted. He had wanted to see Jesus for a long timelinkContextwanted to see Jesus for a long timeLuke 9:9 records Herod's earlier reaction to reports about Jesus: "John I beheaded, but who is this?" Luke 13:31-32 records that Herod wanted to kill Jesus, and Jesus called him "that fox." Now the long-desired encounter arrives — and produces nothing. Herod wants a sign on demand; Jesus has refused this throughout the Gospel (4:9-12; 11:29). — had heard the stories, hoped to watch him perform a miracle. He asked question after question. Jesus said nothinghelpDifficultJesus said nothingJesus' complete silence before Herod is the most total silence in the passion narrative. Before Pilate, Jesus speaks briefly; before Herod, not at all. Three readings: (1) Prophetic fulfillment: Isaiah 53:7 — "as a sheep before its shearers is silent." Jesus enacts the Suffering Servant pattern. (2) Strategic silence: Jesus recognizes that Herod wants entertainment, not truth, and refuses to perform. (3) Spiritual discernment: knowing when not to speak is itself a form of truthfulness. Ambrose: "By remaining silent, he does not confirm the accusation. By not refuting it, he despises it.". Not a word. Not a sign. Nothing.

The chief priests and scribes pressed their case, shouting accusations. But Herod had already made up his mind. He and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt, mocked him, wrapped him in a royal robepublicCulturea royal robeThe Greek ἐσθῆτα λαμπράν describes a "splendid" or "gleaming" garment — probably a white or royal robe. This is mockery by costume: dressing the accused "king" in kingly garb to make the pretension ridiculous. Herod's verdict is contempt (ἐξουθενήσας), not condemnation. He finds Jesus harmless enough to mock, not dangerous enough to execute — which inadvertently serves as a second independent witness to Jesus' non-guilt. — and sent him back to Pilate.

That day, Herod and Pilate became friendslinkContextHerod and Pilate became friendsActs 4:26-28 will later apply Psalm 2:1-2 to this reconciliation: "The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Anointed One." Two authorities who were political enemies are reconciled through their shared treatment of Jesus. The irony is Luke's: friendship born from shared contempt.. Until then, they had been enemies.