And when he was accused of the chief priests and the elders, he answered nothing.
The trial has moved from the religious court to the Roman one. The men who had already decided on His death now press their charges before the governor. Jesus had just answered Pilate's question about kingship. To His accusers He says nothing at all, and that silence says more than any defence could.
The charges had nothing in them, so there was nothing to answer. The governor himself saw through the case almost at once.
In the public examination Jesus "gave no answer," because there was nothing to answer. Pilate saw that very soon, though it amazed him greatly. He was well versed in the subtle ways of the Jews and his sharp legal mind soon discerned that envy was at the bottom of the prosecution. On the other hand he feared the people and wished to stand well with them.
He had spoken a moment earlier, then said no more. He answered what concerned the truth about who He was, and let the rest go.
The governor asks Him if He is King of the Jews. The Lord replies that He is (for He was the truth), witnessing a good confession. ... He was "Son of God" before the priests, "King" before the Roman governor. To the accusing Jews He gives no answer. He was not there to defend Himself or escape. He was a willing Victim, and a witness to the truth. But the heads of the Jewish people stand before us here as the enemies of God.
Silence under false charges is not what anyone expects from an innocent man. All four Gospel writers record it.
When men are oppressed and treated unjustly, to protest is natural and usual. So His silence went against all experience. The Gospels note it — Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:3-4; Luke 23:9; John 19:9. A sheep is truly silent before the shearers. But He was not like a sheep being sheared; He was like a lamb led to the slaughter. He was indeed "the Lamb of God," as John the Baptist proclaimed, yet no word of protest escaped His lips.
A judge sees prisoners fight for themselves every day. This prisoner did not, and Pilate could not make sense of it.
Before the governor the Lord answers the question of who He is: the King of the Jews. But to the many accusations of the chief priests and elders He gave no answer. There was no reason to answer, for they could prove no charge. Pilate himself saw that none of their charges was worth considering. Yet he does not understand why the Lord stays silent. He knew that the first natural impulse of men is to defend themselves.
Because He said nothing, the charges had nowhere to land except back on the men who made them.
Though charged with many things He gave no answer, and Pilate marvelled. He made no defence. The false accusations fell back on the consciences of the accusers. There were many to condemn Him, and none, sadly, to befriend Him! ... He could have thrown back every charge and cleared Himself against each accuser. But self-defence was not His object. Self-surrender, complete and unmistakable, was the business of His blessed life below.
Saying nothing was not giving up. It rested on something the court could not see.
In the presence of all His accusers His resource was in God. He entrusted Himself to the One who judges righteously. When falsely accused before the Jewish council, He "remained silent" (Matthew 26:63). To the accusations of the Jews in front of Pilate, "He gave no answer". ... He was silent before men because He had a resource in God.
The same writer makes His silence a pattern for us when others insult us, and he sets its limits.
How good for us to follow in His steps and keep silent when men speak malicious words against us, whoever they come from. Other Scriptures make clear that the Christian may "entreat," "exhort," and even "rebuke." But he must never insult or threaten.
Knowing which moment calls for words takes a wisdom we rarely have.
He had given one testimony. He never made a mistake. He never spoke when He ought to be silent, or was silent when He ought to speak. We often are.
- Silence with cause — There was nothing to answer. No charge could be proved, and envy drove the whole prosecution.
- Silence with purpose — He confessed who He was, then stopped. He stood there as a willing Victim, not as a prisoner fighting to get free.
- Silence like a lamb — Protest is the natural response to injustice. His stillness ran against all experience, like a lamb led to the slaughter.
- Silence that exposed — The charges fell back on the consciences of the men who brought them, and left Pilate amazed.
- Silence to copy — It rested on His trust in God. It marks our path too: we may entreat, urge and rebuke, but never insult or threaten.
Then says Pilate to him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
The chief priests and elders had just poured out their charges, and Jesus said nothing back. Why did He answer Pilate's question about His kingship, yet leave every accusation untouched?
Pilate knew the charges were empty, and the silence still puzzled him.
Before the governor the Lord answers the question about who He is: the King of the Jews. But to the many accusations of the chief priests and elders He answered nothing. There was no reason to do so, for they could sustain no charge, and Pilate himself recognised all their charges as not worth considering. Yet he does not understand the Lord's remaining silent, for he knew that the first natural impulse of men is to defend themselves.
His answer and His silence follow one rule.
In the perfection of His way, He knows when to speak and when to keep silence. For the truth He will speak, but when it is a question of meeting personal malice against Himself, He is silent. Good for us to profit by His perfect example, and follow in the steps of the One who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return. Such silence, however, is entirely foreign to our fallen nature.
Saying nothing did not leave Him at a disadvantage. It reversed the positions in the room.
He was not there to defend Himself, but to confess who and what He was… His silence produced a far graver effect than anything that could be uttered. Silence now was the more convincing to the conscience. He was clearly superior, morally, to His judge. He was exposing them all, whatever they might say or judge of Him. In truth they judged nothing but what was utterly false, and they condemned Him for the truth.
He was not helpless before the charges. He could have taken every one of them apart, and He chose not to.
Though charged with many things He answered nothing; and Pilate marvelled. He made no defence. The accusations, falsely brought, fell back on the consciences of the accusers… He could have thrown back every charge and cleared Himself against each accuser. But self-defence was not His object; self-surrender, complete and unmistakable, was the business of His blessed life here below.
Isaiah had pictured this silence long before Pilate met it.
Isaiah 53 verse 7 emphasises His silence before His accusers. When men are oppressed and treated unjustly, protest is natural and usual. So His silence went against all experience, and the Gospels note it… Truly a sheep is silent before the shearers, as anyone may see today who stands and watches the shearers at work. But He was not like a sheep being sheared. He was like a lamb led to the slaughter. He was indeed "the Lamb of God," as John the Baptist proclaimed, yet not one word of protest escaped His lips.
Isaiah wrote: "like a lamb that is led to the slaughter… so he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7).
Pilate felt the difference in this prisoner. Feeling it changed nothing.
Throughout this solemn scene Pilate clearly wanted to quiet the people and free Jesus from the malice of the Jews. From the very first it appears that he was aware of something unusual in this prisoner of theirs. His silence had such a character in it that, as we read, "the governor marvelled greatly." And what divine attraction there must have been in every small passage of His life, in every path He took among men! What state must man's eye and ear and heart have been in, not to see and own all this? But it is ourselves: we have looked in the face of the Son of God and have seen no beauty there.
The same silence held before the Jewish council, before Herod, and before Pilate.
When falsely accused before the Jewish council, He "held His peace." To the accusations of the Jews in the presence of Pilate, "He answered nothing." To Pilate himself, "He answered… never a word." The mocking Herod questioned Him with many words, "but He answered him nothing." He was silent before men because He had a resource in God.
- Accusation. No charge would stand, and Pilate treated them as not worth considering. In the end they condemned Him for the truth He confessed, not for anything they proved.
- Silence. He spoke for the truth of who He was and stayed silent under personal malice; that silence reached the conscience more powerfully than any words.
- Surrender. He could have dismantled every charge; He did not, because self-surrender, not self-defence, was the business of His life.
- Prophecy. Isaiah had drawn the picture already: a lamb led to the slaughter, and not a word. His silence went against every human instinct, and it was foretold.
- Response. Pilate marvelled and went no further. The danger is to look into the face of the Son of God and see no beauty there.
And he answered him not so much as one word, so that the governor wondered exceedingly.
When Jesus stood before the Roman governor, His accusers piled on charge after charge. He answered none of them, and the silence startled the man who was judging Him.
Jesus gave Pilate a straight answer about who He was. Then He said nothing while the charges piled up. One writer notes that the accusations were so thin that even the judge could see through them.
Before the governor the Lord answers the question of who He is: the King of the Jews. But to the many accusations of the chief priests and elders He answered nothing. There was no reason to answer. They could not make a single charge stand, and Pilate himself saw that all their charges were not worth considering.
He kept the same silence everywhere they took Him. One writer lines up those scenes and gives the reason for them.
When falsely accused before the Jewish council, "Jesus remained silent" (Matthew 26:63). To the accusations of the Jews in front of Pilate, "He gave no answer". To Pilate himself, "He gave him no answer, not even to a single charge" (Matt. 27:12-14). Herod mocked Him and questioned Him at length, "but He made no answer" (Luke 23:9). He was silent before men because He had a resource in God.
His silence was not helplessness. He had come for something other than winning an argument.
He could have thrown back every charge and cleared Himself against every accuser. But self-defence was not His aim. Total and unmistakable self-surrender was the business of His blessed life here below.
That choice shaped the whole trial. His silence did more than any defence could have done.
He was not there to defend Himself, but to confess who and what He was… His silence had a far more serious effect than any words could have had. There is a time to be silent as there is a time to speak. Silence now was more convincing to the conscience. Morally He was clearly above His judge… Whether it was before the high priest or before Pontius Pilate, it was the truth He confessed, and men condemned Him for the truth.
Isaiah had described this silence long before. One writer shows how unnatural such silence is for anyone treated unjustly.
Verse 7 emphasises His silence before His accusers. When men are oppressed and treated unjustly, protest is natural and normal. So His silence went against all experience, and the Gospels record it — Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:3-4; Luke 23:9; John 19:9… He was not like a sheep being sheared, but like a lamb led to the slaughter. He was indeed "the Lamb of God," as John the Baptist proclaimed, yet no word of protest escaped His lips.
Behind the fulfilled prophecy lies a motive. He was not powerless to stop what was happening.
Not a word did He utter. Why was this? Answer me that. When those small creatures made by His own hand insulted their Creator, He could have swept them out of existence with a single word. Why then did He keep silence? … "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth" (Isa. 53:7). Here it is fulfilled. The love of His heart for sinners brought Him to this.
Pilate knew what an accused man normally does.
Yet he does not understand why the Lord stays silent. He knew that the first natural impulse of men is to defend themselves. He cannot help being deeply impressed by the calm dignity of one so viciously accused: he was greatly amazed.
Something in the prisoner reached him, and other events pressed the same way. Yet he still handed Jesus over.
From the very first it appears that he was aware of something unusual in this Prisoner of theirs. His silence had such a character in it that, as we read, "the governor was greatly amazed."… Everything that happened as the scene went on strengthened the governor's first impression. His wife's dream, the clear malice of the Jews, and, above all, this righteous, guiltless Prisoner — though in shame and suffering — still insisting that He was the Son of God: it all assailed his conscience. But the world in Pilate's heart was too strong for these convictions in his conscience.
- Silence — He answered Pilate's one question about who He was, then said nothing to the charges. No charge could stand, and He had not come to defend Himself.
- Surrender — the silence was chosen, not forced. Self-surrender, not self-defence, was the business of His life.
- Scripture — protest is the natural reaction to injustice. His silence went against all experience and fulfilled what Isaiah wrote of the Lamb.
- Love — He could have destroyed His accusers with a word; love for sinners kept Him quiet.
- Two responses — Pilate was amazed, yet the world in his heart shouted his conscience down. Jesus stayed silent before men because He had a resource in God.