Q&A: Pilate and Herod

Question

What area of land did Pilate rule over and what area of land did Herod rule over? Was Pilate under Herod's rule, and were they both under Caesar's rule?

Answer

Herod was king over Galilee and Perea; Pilate was prefect over Judea and Samaria. Caesar was emperor over both these territories, so both Herod and Pilate were under his rule. Their positions seem to have been roughly equivalent in power, neither being under or over the other; they simply ruled different territory. This is why in Luke 23:6-7 Pilate sends Jesus to Herod when he hears that Jesus is from Galilee (there is some question about jurisdiction).