Luke 23:12

12 That day Herod and Pilate became thick as thieves. Always before they had kept their distance.

Luke 23:12 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 23:12

And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends
together
For it pleased Herod, that Pilate should show such a regard to his authority and power, as to send one that belonged to his jurisdiction to take cognizance of his case; and especially as it was a person that was much talked of, and he had long wanted to see; and Pilate, on the other hand, was pleased with Herod, that though he was one that was under his jurisdiction, and so had a right of trying the cause, and either absolve or condemn, yet chose not to use this his power, but referred the case to the Roman governor: for before they were at enmity between themselves;
it may be on account of the Galilaeans, the subjects of Herod, whom Pilate had slain, whilst they were sacrificing at Jerusalem, ( Luke 13:1 ) , which Herod might resent, as an infringement upon his authority and power; for had they been ever so deserving of punishment, it ought to have been left to him, to have inflicted it, and not the governor of Judea, who had nothing to do with them: but now matters were made up by this step of Pilate's, in sending Christ to him, supposed to be a Galilean, and so of Herod's jurisdiction; which was tacitly acknowledging his former conduct to be wrong, and showed a regard to Herod's authority: and thus they were reconciled together, and agreed in their contemptuous usage, and ill-treatment of Christ, and so fulfilled ( Psalms 2:1 Psalms 2:2 ) .

Luke 23:12 In-Context

10 But the high priests and religion scholars were right there, saying their piece, strident and shrill in their accusations.
11 Mightily offended, Herod turned on Jesus. His soldiers joined in, taunting and jeering. Then they dressed him up in an elaborate king costume and sent him back to Pilate.
12 That day Herod and Pilate became thick as thieves. Always before they had kept their distance.
13 Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others
14 and said, "You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.