When thou shalt in thy kingdom come,
Jesus, remember me.”
Herod Expecteth to be Amused
Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan. 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. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.—St. Luke xxiii: 4-11.
NOTE BY THE ARTIST
While in residence in Jerusalem, Herod Antipas occupied the ancient palace of the Hasmonæan kings, situated on the western hill, not far from that built by Herod the Great. A weak, cruel sensualist, Antipas, like other princelings of his family, affected the dress and manners and the refined luxury of the Greeks. Blasé and wearied doubtless with the monotonous pleasures of the dissolute court, he welcomed the excitement promised by the appearance of Jesus at his judgment-seat, anticipating that the prisoner would thankfully purchase his life at the cost of amusing him and his courtiers by some display of the magical power with the possession of which rumor had credited him. Herod was devoted to hunting and had special hunting grounds near the Lake of Gennesaret, so a favorite hound is appropriately introduced.
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