Luke 23 7

Luke 23:7 kjv

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 23:7 nkjv

And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Luke 23:7 niv

When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Luke 23:7 esv

And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.

Luke 23:7 nlt

When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 7 Meaning

Luke 23:7 details a pivotal moment during Jesus' trial. Upon discovering that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate, the Roman prefect, chose to send Jesus to Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, who happened to be in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. This act by Pilate was a strategic attempt to deflect responsibility and avoid making a judgment that could stir unrest, leveraging the technicality of Jesus's origin. It was a transfer of jurisdiction, momentarily shifting the legal burden from Roman civil authority to Herod's regional authority.

Luke 23 7 Context

Luke chapter 23 begins with Jesus being led before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, after the Jewish religious council (Sanhedrin) had condemned Him. The Jewish leaders, unable to carry out an execution under Roman law, brought charges of treason against Jesus, claiming He forbade tribute to Caesar and claimed to be a king. Pilate questioned Jesus and declared Him innocent, finding no basis for the capital charges. It is in this immediate context (Luke 23:5) that the Jewish leaders escalated their accusation, specifically mentioning Galilee. This triggered Pilate's inquiry and subsequent decision to send Jesus to Herod Antipas, as described in Luke 23:7.

Historically, Judea was a Roman province under Pilate, while Galilee and Perea were under the rule of Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great, appointed as a tetrarch by Rome. Roman legal practice often dictated that cases be tried in the accused's home jurisdiction. Pilate's act of referring Jesus to Herod, therefore, had a legalistic veneer, though it was primarily motivated by his desire to avoid handling a volatile political-religious case. Herod Antipas happened to be in Jerusalem at the time for the Passover festival, which made the transfer physically convenient. This temporary shift in authority demonstrates the numerous layers of jurisdiction involved in Jesus' trial, ultimately showing how both Jewish and Roman authorities were implicated in His condemnation, even as Pilate sought to disclaim responsibility.

Luke 23 7 Word analysis

• And when he knew (καὶ γνοὺς - kai gnōus): The Greek word gnōus is an aorist participle from ginōskō, meaning "to come to know," "to perceive," or "to realize clearly." This is not a passive hearing but an active recognition by Pilate that Jesus's place of origin, Galilee, fell under a different jurisdiction. This realization became the pivotal point for his subsequent action.
• that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction (ἐκ τῆς ἐξουσίας Ἡρῴδου ὄντα - ek tēs exousias Hērōdou onta):
  • ἐξουσίας (exousias) means "authority," "power," "right," or "jurisdiction." It refers to the legitimate power invested in an individual or office. Herod Antipas held legitimate exousia over Galilee.
  • Ἡρῴδου (Hērōdou) refers to Herod Antipas, the tetrarch appointed by Rome over Galilee and Perea, known for his involvement in the death of John the Baptist.
  • The phrase collectively signifies that Jesus was fundamentally within Herod's legal purview due to His Galilean heritage.
• he sent him to Herod (ἀνέπεμψεν αὐτὸν πρὸς Ἡρῴδην - anepempsen auton pros Hērōdēn):
  • ἀνέπεμψεν (anepempsen) literally means "sent up," "referred," or "sent back." In legal contexts, it denotes a formal referral of a case or prisoner to a superior or more appropriate authority. Pilate was using a recognized procedure, but for his own ends. This act signals Pilate's desire to relinquish his difficult responsibility.
• who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time (ὄντα δὲ καὶ αὐτὸν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐν τούτοις τοῖς χρόνοις - onta de kai auton en Hierosolumois en toutois tois chronois):
  • This phrase emphasizes the incidental yet providentially significant timing. Herod's presence in Jerusalem for Passover made the physical transfer of Jesus immediate and practical. This unexpected confluence of events played directly into the divine plan for Jesus' trial.

Luke 23 7 Bonus section

• This episode, the sending of Jesus to Herod, is unique to Luke's Gospel. Neither Matthew, Mark, nor John record this specific interaction, highlighting Luke's distinctive interest in details concerning justice, legal processes, and the varying reactions of different authorities to Jesus.
• The incident highlights the volatile political environment of Judea during the Roman occupation, where multiple overlapping jurisdictions and personalities contributed to the complexity of governance. Pilate’s cautiousness indicates the constant fear of unrest and insurrections that Roman governors lived with, particularly during festivals.
• The convenience of Herod's presence in Jerusalem at that exact moment for Passover demonstrates God's sovereignty over human schedules and movements, orchestrating every detail to bring about His perfect plan of salvation.

Luke 23 7 Commentary

Luke 23:7 unveils a key psychological and political dynamic during Jesus's trial: Pilate's strategic evasion of responsibility. Faced with mounting pressure from the Jewish leaders, whom he correctly perceived were motivated by malice, and personally finding no basis for conviction, Pilate grasped at a jurisdictional loophole. His act of sending Jesus to Herod Antipas, a client king ruling Galilee under Rome, was a transparent attempt to rid himself of a burdensome and potentially explosive case. This decision reflects a common human tendency to shirk duty and defer difficult judgments when convenience or personal safety is threatened.

Furthermore, this act brought another powerful, albeit weak and capricious, ruler into direct contact with the Lord. Herod Antipas, whose hands were already stained by the execution of John the Baptist, demonstrates a morbid curiosity mixed with contempt towards Jesus (Luke 23:8-11). He desired a spectacle, not truth or justice. This intertwining of Roman civil power, Jewish religious authority, and a tetrarch's rule ultimately served to highlight Jesus' innocence while ironically solidifying the collective human guilt in His condemnation. As noted by Luke, this unusual act of political deference even mended the previous enmity between Pilate and Herod (Luke 23:12), showing how even the wicked deeds and alliances of humanity are ultimately used by God to fulfill His sovereign plan (Acts 4:27-28). It serves as a reminder that no matter the political machinations or human attempts to avoid accountability, God's will prevails.