Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Pilate urges the bound Jesus standing in the judgment hall to hear the many accusations the priests and rulers bring against Him and to answer them. Jesus makes no further answer to the false charges but meets them with silence. He is silent because He has already spoken the truth to Pilate in private to enlighten him, so that nothing more remains that would keep Pilate from condemning Him. Amid fury, insult and mockery He remains calm, dignified, patient and conscious of innocence, with a noble bearing more like a king than a criminal, which amazes and troubles Pilate and the throng. Pilate sees no sedition in Him and is convinced He was delivered for envy and is innocent, yet fails to do justice, while Jesus stands there innocent as man's representative, bearing the sins of the world to give His life that repentant sinners may be justified.
Trial Before Pilate
Pilate urges Jesus to listen to how many charges are being brought against Him and to answer them. He presses Him with why He makes no reply to the accusations. The scene is the trial in the judgment hall, where Jesus stands as a bound prisoner before Pilate while Jewish leaders and priests accuse Him. There He is humiliated and reviled, with the crowd turned against Him and calling for His crucifixion, while the Jewish priests and rulers pressure the Roman governor to do their will.
To the false charges and questions He gives no further answer but meets them with silence. He answers nothing to the many questions and accusations put to Him. He is silent because He had already spoken to Pilate privately to bring the truth to his understanding. There was nothing more He could say that would keep Pilate from condemning Him.
Amid the fury of His accusers He remains calm, dignified, composed and unmoved. His appearance bears no sign of guilt, fear, or defiance, with no frown or troubled expression. His calm silence gives evidence of innocence amid the accusers' fury, and His calm, unmoved bearing shows conscious innocence and superior wisdom. His patience and forbearance under insult and mockery are joined to a noble, benevolent, God-like bearing, with perfect and noble form, mild clear undaunted eye, broad high forehead, and every feature marked with benevolence and noble principle, so unlike man that spectators compare Him with those sitting in judgment against Him and judge Him more like a king to be entrusted with a kingdom than any of the rulers or than a criminal.
His silence amazes, marvels, astonishes, perplexes and troubles Pilate and the throng. It gains Him many sympathizers in that company and makes many tremble. The assembly is also astonished by His forbearance toward Judas and wonders why, if He is the Son of God, He does not free Himself and overcome His accusers. Pilate sees no sign of the seditious character alleged and does not trust the priests' charges. He is convinced Jesus was handed over from envy and declares Him innocent, yet though recognizing that justice should be done, he fails to do it.
Redemption and Example
At Pilate's bar Jesus stood innocent, having done no wrong, as humanity's representative while Pilate pressed Him over the many accusations brought against Him. He bore the sins of the world and was treated and condemned as a transgressor, willingly suffering humiliation and death to give His life for the world. This was done so that repentant sinners might be clothed with His righteousness and justified. Pilate recognized that justice should be done yet failed to do it. His refusal to answer unto death stands in contrast with His readiness to answer all who seek the way of life.
His condemnation before Pilate in the judgment hall, with the crowd turned against Him and demanding His crucifixion, became a severe test for His disciples. In that trial the Jewish priests and rulers pressured the Roman governor to do their will, and Jesus on the cross is set forth as the example of trusting God and standing firm against human power. His silence under accusation teaches that silence can be eloquent. From Him His followers are to learn to restrain their words even when indignation is strong.
Pilate urges the bound Jesus standing in the judgment hall to hear the many accusations the priests and rulers bring against Him and to answer them. Jesus makes no further answer to the false charges but meets them with silence. He is silent because He has already spoken the truth to Pilate in private to enlighten him, so that nothing more remains that would keep Pilate from condemning Him. Amid fury, insult and mockery He remains calm, dignified, patient and conscious of innocence, with a noble bearing more like a king than a criminal, which amazes and troubles Pilate and the throng. Pilate sees no sedition in Him and is convinced He was delivered for envy and is innocent, yet fails to do justice, while Jesus stands there innocent as man's representative, bearing the sins of the world to give His life that repentant sinners may be justified.
Trial Before Pilate
Pilate urges Jesus to listen to how many charges are being brought against Him and to answer them. He presses Him with why He makes no reply to the accusations. The scene is the trial in the judgment hall, where Jesus stands as a bound prisoner before Pilate while Jewish leaders and priests accuse Him. There He is humiliated and reviled, with the crowd turned against Him and calling for His crucifixion, while the Jewish priests and rulers pressure the Roman governor to do their will.
To the false charges and questions He gives no further answer but meets them with silence. He answers nothing to the many questions and accusations put to Him. He is silent because He had already spoken to Pilate privately to bring the truth to his understanding. There was nothing more He could say that would keep Pilate from condemning Him.
Amid the fury of His accusers He remains calm, dignified, composed and unmoved. His appearance bears no sign of guilt, fear, or defiance, with no frown or troubled expression. His calm silence gives evidence of innocence amid the accusers' fury, and His calm, unmoved bearing shows conscious innocence and superior wisdom. His patience and forbearance under insult and mockery are joined to a noble, benevolent, God-like bearing, with perfect and noble form, mild clear undaunted eye, broad high forehead, and every feature marked with benevolence and noble principle, so unlike man that spectators compare Him with those sitting in judgment against Him and judge Him more like a king to be entrusted with a kingdom than any of the rulers or than a criminal.
His silence amazes, marvels, astonishes, perplexes and troubles Pilate and the throng. It gains Him many sympathizers in that company and makes many tremble. The assembly is also astonished by His forbearance toward Judas and wonders why, if He is the Son of God, He does not free Himself and overcome His accusers. Pilate sees no sign of the seditious character alleged and does not trust the priests' charges. He is convinced Jesus was handed over from envy and declares Him innocent, yet though recognizing that justice should be done, he fails to do it.
Redemption and Example
At Pilate's bar Jesus stood innocent, having done no wrong, as humanity's representative while Pilate pressed Him over the many accusations brought against Him. He bore the sins of the world and was treated and condemned as a transgressor, willingly suffering humiliation and death to give His life for the world. This was done so that repentant sinners might be clothed with His righteousness and justified. Pilate recognized that justice should be done yet failed to do it. His refusal to answer unto death stands in contrast with His readiness to answer all who seek the way of life.
His condemnation before Pilate in the judgment hall, with the crowd turned against Him and demanding His crucifixion, became a severe test for His disciples. In that trial the Jewish priests and rulers pressured the Roman governor to do their will, and Jesus on the cross is set forth as the example of trusting God and standing firm against human power. His silence under accusation teaches that silence can be eloquent. From Him His followers are to learn to restrain their words even when indignation is strong.