Luke 23:7 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He sent him to Herod,——Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, who had beheaded St. John the Baptist. Pilate probably sent Christ to Herod, with a design to pay him a compliment, and as the means of reconciliation, which it accordingly proved, Luke 23:12. Another reason likewise for Pilate's doing this might be to oblige his wife, who had cautioned him by a message to have nothing to do with that just man. Matthew 27:19. And he might be further induced to it, in order to ease his own conscience, as being convinced of our Saviour's innocence; and at the same time to gratifythe Jews, if Herod had thought fit to comply with their solicitations. The Roman governors indeed were empowered to punish any persons for crimes committed by them within thelimits of their respective provinces, even though they belonged to other states and jurisdictions; but yet there appears no irregularity in this procedure of Pilate, nor any thing but what was customary on some occasions, as we learn from the Roman law.