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Conveniently, Herod was in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. An appointment was made and Jesus was brought before Herod by the Jews. It would appear that Herod welcomed this opportunity to meet Jesus. He had heard many things about this man. He had been told that once Jesus had given sight to a blind man and that He had also made a lame man to walk. He had even heard something about Jesus bringing a man who had been dead for 4 days back to life. Some even said that He had fed 5,000 people with two loves and 5 fishes. Out of curiosity, Herod longed to see Jesus and witness one of His displays of "magic".
Obviously, Jesus knew what motivated Herod's enthusiastic reception of Him and despite Herod's many questions, Jesus answered him nothing. Ironical isn't it, up to this time, the poorest beggar that asked Jesus for something received it, none were denied. But Jesus would not be put on display like a magician, even for a king. Herod could have witnessed many miracles over the last three years had he chose to do so, but pride got in his way. Herod had missed the chance of a lifetime. I believe that the Holy Spirit will cease to strive with a person after a while and we do not know when that time might be. Passed up opportunities might never return.
Finally when it became clear that Jesus would not perform for Herod, Herod allowed the Jews to voice their accusations. Notice Luke does not record what they said but it is assumed that they charged Him as they had before Pilate. He, according to them, had perverted their nation. He had forbad the giving of tribute to Caesar. You can imagine how Herod felt about this last accusation. So because of this charge and because Jesus would not perform for him, Herod became very abusive. He put upon Him a "kingly robe" and made Him the object of physical and verbal abuse by Herod's soldiers. Then he sent Him back to Pilate.
It would appear that Herod could not find any fault in Jesus either. We see here two strange "bedfellows". Verse 12 tells us that as the result of the appearance of Jesus before them that day, Herod and Pilate became friends. We can only speculate what contact these two had in the days that followed. Surly, in spite of their differences, they must, in their own way, have admired Jesus and openly have judged Him innocent. This, plus the impossible situation onto which each had been placed, formed a bond of friendship. So Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate.
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