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."