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NASB | Luke 23:12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 23:12 Now that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other--before this they had been enemies. |
Bible Question:
Why were Pilate and Herod enemies? What united them? |
Bible Answer: Pilate was Roman and a conqueror Herod was Jewish and was conquered. First Pilate hated Israel and hated the Jews he didn’t want to be there and he was. He was in charge of the occupation and with maintaining peace and the Jews were not ones to submit peacefully to anyone. Plus Pilate made many mistakes. The Jews hated graven images so when the Romans came in with their standards caring images of Caesar they went wild. It came down to a show down where Pilate threatened to kill every Jew and every Jew offered their neck. Pilate was forced to back up. Further Pilate viewed Herod with contempt seeing him as a rich decadent, weak, spoiled imbecile. Herod was a political appointment he had money and family connections to Caesar. He wanted control and ratted out Pilate every time Pilate had a problem controlling the Jews. Caesar love the situation because he had these two telling one each other so he knew exactly what was going on at all times. He was putting pressure on Pilate to bring the Jews into submission but to do it peacefully. Both Pilate and Herod saw it was expedient to allow the Jews their will with Jesus, both thought it would warm the Jews to them being the leader. Pilate also wanted nothing of this to get back to Caesar who might look upon it as one more failure in Pilate’s career. Herod was hoping the Jews would call for Pilate’s replacement and he would be asked to step in. They became unlikely allies selfishly thinking their actions would further cement their position in the eyes of the Jews. EdB |