Luke 23
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The Pharisees saw him as a blasphemer and they smarted under his biting rebukes of their hypocrisy.
The high priests doubtless found their revenues hit when he cleansed the temple and Caiaphas pointed out that his existence was politically inexpedient: he might cause the Romans to take away what little liberty remained to them.
So for more than one reason they wanted him executed. But they lacked the power (John 18:31).
Rome couldn't let people use their legal processes to kill supporters. The power to carry out the death penalty rested with one person: the governor.
Claim to be the son of God did not merit the death penalty. Jews had to talk about it ways that would seem serious to the Romans. Accused Jesus of being a political revolutionary (king).
They accused him on three counts: perverting our nation (a curiously unspecific charge which probably means sedition; cf. jb, ‘inciting our people to revolt’), forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar (shades of 20:25!), and saying that he himself is Christ a king (though Jesus had refused to use the term in their examination of him, 22:67ff.). Both the second and third charges were serious and Pilate could be expected to take a dim view of anyone guilty of either.
3 - Reluctant assent to the question. He was king of the Jews; not in the sense Pilate was asking.
4 - Luke shortens the account. Focuses on the verdict.
Pilate discerned: Jewish malice rather than a capital charge is why Jesus is here today.
5 - High priests not happy.
HEROD
This section only in Luke. Pilate didn't want anything to do with the case.
6-7 - A trial was carried out in the province where the offense was committed though it could be referred to the province to which the accused belonged.
It was a compliment to Herod to refer the case him and was technically allowable because Jesus belonged to Herod's jurisdiction.
He came to Jerusalem to observe the passover - would please his subjects. Therefore, he was available.
8 - Herod heard of Jesus' reputation. Wanted to see one of Jesus' miracles (mighty works) - the spectacle of it.
9-10 - Didn't get what he wanted.
11 - Didn't get his miracle, no longer interested. Joined in mocking Jesus and sent him back to Pilate.
Clothes - mockery; Herod didn't take the charge seriously.
12 - Returned the compliment to Herod by sending Jesus back.
Pilate had no option then but to take the case.