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Pilate’s First Interview with Jesus and his First Declaration of Innocence: Not permitted to execute Jesus themselves, the Sanhedrin brings Jesus to Pilate early in the morning for His Roman (or Civil) Trial. Pilate investigates whether or not Jesus is guilty of insurrection. When Pilate askes Him, if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus answers "It is as you say." The Jews continue to press charges, which Jesus does not respond to. Jesus’s silence amazes Pilate. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus’s Arraignment before Pilate.

Jude praises God, for it is God who can keep us from falling away from His fellowship, so that we can stand before Him one day without blame and with deep happiness, rather than shame. It is God who has saved us, through His Son Jesus. He deserves all glory forever, He is sovereign over all things throughout all of time. This we believe is so. 

Bearing in mind that God will punish sin, Jude urges his readers to remember what the apostles teach. It is not unexpected that mocking, lustful men will come to cause divisions in the church. But believers can stand firm in the faith, pray under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and thus can maintain their fellowship with God. In doing so, believers can help other stumbling believers avoid losing their rewards and right themselves in their faith-walk with God. 

Jude quotes a prophecy from Enoch, detailing how God will judge the ungodly for their sinful deeds. Sins like grumbling, fault-finding, acting upon lust, arrogance, manipulating people to gain power over them—God will punish such behaviors. 

Just as the examples of sin and faithlessness previously described, the men who are corrupting Jude’s readers will be judged by God. The false teachers will be punished for their deceptions, and to follow them will only lead to loss of reward and fellowship with God. 

Jude appeals to examples from the Old Testament as proof to what he is urging his readers to do. God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, but He did not allow the unbelieving Israelites to receive the reward of the Promise Land. Likewise, He has punished demons by chaining them in darkness. Further, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their sinfulness. These are each examples that God judges sin and faithlessness.

Jude felt this letter was necessary to write to encourage his readers to fight for the faith. There are certain unnamed false teachers who have come into their assembly who are using God’s forgiveness as an excuse to sin and to reject Jesus as Lord. 

Jude, the servant and half-brother of Jesus, greets his readers, who are also believers in Jesus, loved by God the Father, called to live a life of faith. Jude extends a blessing of mercy, peace, and love to his audience.

Herod Antipas judges Jesus: When Jesus first arrives in Herod Antipas’s court, the tetrarch is greatly pleased because he has been wanting to see the miracle worker perform a sign. When Jesus remains completely silent, Herod’s demeanor shifts to contempt and he leads his court in mocking Jesus, dressing him in a fine robe as a joke, and then returns Him to Pilate. This is the second phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus’s Audience before Herod Antipas.

Pilate’s First Interview with Jesus and his First Declaration of Innocence: Pilate follows up on the charge of insurrection and interviews Jesus, asking Him if He is the King of the Jews. Jesus replies, "It is as you say." Pilate finds nothing in Jesus’s answer to convict Him, so declares His innocence. The chief priests are adamant that Jesus must die. As they protest, Pilate hears that Jesus is from Galilee, and decides to send Jesus to Herod, the ruler of that district, and let him deal with the trial. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus’s Arraignment before Pilate.

The Priests bring and accuse Jesus to Pilate. Not permitted to execute Jesus themselves, the Sanhedrin brings Jesus to Pilate early in the morning for His Roman or Civil Trial. They present three charges against Jesus: He is misleading the nation; He teaches people to not pay their taxes; He claims to be a king. The third accusation is the most serious and the one that the trial chiefly pursues. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus’s Arraignment before Pilate.

Ahasuerus approves of Memucan’s counsel. A message goes to every province of Persia in every language of its citizens, informing the people that Vashti is no longer queen, as well as declaring that men are the master of their own house.

Ahasuerus’s counselors are summoned to advise him concerning Vashti’s disobedience. His wiseman, Memucan, reframes the insulting matter as an affront to all men in the Persian Empire, that Vashti’s action will influence all wives to disrespect their husbands. An official message should be sent abroad informing the subjects that Vashti has been demoted of her queenship. This will inspire women to respect their husbands.

On the last day of the banquet, Ahasuerus is quite drunk. He commands seven servants to fetch his wife Queen Vashti to show off her beauty to the men at his party.

In the final week of the banquet, Ahasuerus opens his courtyard to the common folk of Susa. The most extravagant finery decorates the palace garden. Unlimited wine is served in golden cups to anyone and everyone, though no one is forced to drink. Ahasuerus’s wife, Queen Vashti, holds a banquet in a separate part of the palace for the women.

The Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes 1) hosts a lavish banquet in the capital city of Susa, a banquet which lasts half a year for the lords and princes in his kingdom. 

After a day and night of healings and deliverances from demon-possession, Jesus retreats from the crowds in search of solitude. He tells them that He must continue preaching the Kingdom of God in other cities.

Later that evening some people bring Jesus many who were demon-possessed. Jesus frees them from their spiritual bondage and commands the demons to be silent because they knew Him to be the Christ.

Luke records Jesus’s first miracle of physical healing in his Gospel. Jesus heals Simon’s (Peter’s) mother—in-law of a fever. 

While Jesus is teaching in a Capernaum synagogue, a man with an unclean demon begins crying out and identifying Jesus as the Holy One of God. Jesus swiftly rebukes the demon to keep quiet and come out of the man. It does. The crowd’s amazement at Jesus’s authority increases because He not only teaches with authority, He even commands unclean demons and they obey Him. News of this amazing event spread all throughout the district of Galilee. This is the first specific miracle performed by Jesus that is explained in Luke’s gospel.