The 1st Appearance Before Pilate & Herod
Article #9 on the Passion of Jesus Christ
(Matt. 27:1-2, 11-14, Mk. 15:1-5, Lk. 23:1-7, Jn. 18:28-32)
Contextual Details for Harmonizing the Gospels:
The Evangelists work together to provide clarity on the number and order of the various appearances before Pilate. Lacking the testimony of even one Evangelist will result in the confounding of the testimony of them all. Matthew and Mark do not clearly delineate between the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd appearances before Pilate, without the clarity provided by the other Evangelists. Luke makes a clear and undeniable delineation between the 1st & 2nd appearances before Pilate, because evidently Jesus appeared before Herod in the midst. However, Luke does not clearly delineate between the 2nd & 3rd appearances before Pilate, without the clarity provided by the other Evangelists. John makes a clear and undeniable delineation between the 2nd & 3rd appearances before Pilate, because evidently Jesus was scourged and crowned with thorns in the midst. However, John does not clearly delineate between the 1st & 2nd appearances before Pilate, without the clarity provided by the other Evangelists. Conclusively, all things become manifest with a close analysis of each testimony. Only then will those things deemed obscure become crystal clear. Matthew gives a clear account of the 1st appearance in that Jesus “never” answered Pilate “a word” more than, “Thou sayest”, in Matthew 27:1-2 & 11-14. Mark further confirms this account in Mark 15:1-5. Luke does the same while giving further details on how this 1st appearance was abruptly interrupted in Luke 23:1-7. John overpasses various details of the 1st appearance contained in the other Gospels in John 18:28-32, and instead focuses more on the 2nd & 3rd appearances.
“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” - Acts 3:13-15
Pilate’s determination to liberate Jesus is a little-known fact about the plot of the crucifixion story. However, this further confirms the message of the Gospel in the Passion of Jesus Christ. The Evangelists made it abundantly clear that Jesus could have easily thwarted the whole endeavor, especially because Pilate was actively attempting to free the Man. This was no secret. Pilate was publicly resisting the Jews in their conspiracy.
Considering the circumstances, from an earthly perspective, it would have required very little effort for our Lord to seize upon His own freedom. Therefore, Pilate was sorely amazed that Jesus Christ would remain silent at such a time; literally, not one word was uttered in the Messiah’s first appearance before Pilate.
Immediately, at sunrise, while the Son of God sat in prison, the Chief Priests and Elders assembled once again to devise a plan for the day (Matt. 27:1-2, Mk. 15:1; Isa. 53:8). They didn’t have much time. In ≈6 hours after dawn, at about 12 Noon, Jesus Christ will be crucified on the hill of Calvary. Therefore, a lot happened in a little amount of time. The rapid succession of events that took place speaks volumes about the Gospel.
Apparently, the Sanhedrin lacked the power of capital punishment while under Roman rule, so the Jews had to appeal their case to the governor named Pontius Pilate (Jn. 18:31). The Jews were determined to do whatever it takes to put the Son of God to death. They amassed a huge multitude to be with them as they delivered Jesus to Pilate at the judgment hall. This will prove to be critically important in the outcome of events from an earthly perspective (Matt. 27:24).
“And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.” – Lk. 23:1
“Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.” – Jn. 18:29-30
“And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.” – Lk. 23:2
Pilate had a reputation of brutality and violence when he deemed it necessary (Lk. 13:1). The Jews knew the red lines of Rome. As a heathen man, and a pagan idolater, Pilate was appointed to protect and secure the interest of the Roman Empire. Therefore, the Jews were hoping to provoke a response from Pilate by saying that Jesus forbade the people from paying tribute to Caesar (Lk. 23:2). The Jews had been trying to frame Jesus of this crime for years (Matt. 22:15-22, Mk. 12:13-17, Lk. 20:19-26).
“And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.” – Matt. 27:11-14
“And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.” – Mark 15:2-5
“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” – Isa. 53:7
“He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” – Jn. 1:12
Undoubtedly, the fame of Jesus had reached the ears of Pilate a long time before this point. Therefore, the governor was likely both curious and cautious when stepping away from the courtyard to begin privately interrogating the Man. Surprisingly, in such a precarious situation, the famed teacher and miracle worker remained silent. Neither the Jews nor the Romans expected this kind of behavior from Jesus of Nazareth, seeing that He was “a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Lk. 24:19). They marveled greatly to behold the quietness of a bold, defiant, and unparalleled Orator. Furthermore, no prisoner had ever shown such disregard for his own life like Jesus of Nazareth. However, much to the dismay of the Jews, Pilate went away convinced that Jesus committed no crime worthy of death.
“Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.” - Luke 23:4-7
The Jews wouldn’t take no for an answer. They waxed even louder in their accusations as a response to Pilate’s judgment of innocence. Nevertheless, Pilate would go on to demonstrate a remarkable resolve to let the Messiah go free; but more than anything the governor selfishly desired to be free from the entanglement of the whole affair. Therefore, when the opportunity arose for Pilate to commit Jesus to the jurisdiction of Herod, he seized upon it hoping to be done with it.
King Herod, The Edomite (the Son of “Herod the Great”)
(Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 8:15, Luke 13:31-35, 23:8-12)
The excitement of Herod quickly turned sour when he realized that Jesus wasn’t going to entertain him with miracles. Even upon questioning the Messiah with “many words”, Herod was sorely displeased in that Jesus “answered him nothing” (Lk. 23:9). Meanwhile, the Chief Priests and Scribes could be seen standing by and “vehemently” accusing Jesus before Herod all to no avail!
“And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.” – Luke 23:8-11
Herod the Edomite and the Pharisees didn’t get along. Herod ended up taking vengeance on Jesus for the dishonorable conduct rendered to him by commanding the men of war to dress the Son of God in “a gorgeous robe” as they all mocked Him (Lk. 23:11). Then, perhaps just to spite the Jews, Herod dismissed Jesus from the court as an innocent Man.
