Mark 15:6 - Exposition

St. Mark omits here what took place next in the order of events, namely, the sending of our Lord by Pilate to Herod ( Luke 23:5 ). This was Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee; and Pilate, apparently convinced of our Lord's innocence, hoped to escape the responsibility of condemning an innocent man, by handing him over to Herod; for Pilate had heard that our Lord was a Galilean. Moreover, he hoped to accomplish another good result, namely, to recover the favor of Herod, which was desirable on political grounds. The first intention failed; for Herod sent our Lord back to Pilate in mockery, "arraying him in gorgeous apparel" ( περιβαλὼν ἐσθῆτα λαμπρὰν ). But the second succeeded: "Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day" ( Luke 23:12 ). There was now, however, another resource. At the feast ( κατα ἑορτὴν )—literally, at feast-time— he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him ὅνπερ ἠτοῦντο ). In St. John ( John 18:39 ) we read that Pilate said, "Ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover."