And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Jesus stood bound as a prisoner before Pilate in the Roman judgment hall while the priests and rulers loudly demanded His death, and when Pilate asked why He answered nothing to the many charges against Him, He gave Him no reply. He appeared pale, bruised and faint from loss of sleep and food, yet noble and dignified in bearing with no sign of guilt, fear or defiance. His calm self-possession and forbearance under hate and abuse greatly astonished Pilate and the throng, won the governor's deep respect, and strengthened his conviction that Jesus was innocent. He had already spoken privately to bring the light of truth to Pilate's understanding, and His continued silence showed conscious innocence, calm strength and superior wisdom that would not retaliate. Standing as humanity's representative He accepted humiliation and condemnation without answering because He had given His life for the world, and His restraint teaches those who face injustice that silence can express wisdom and serve the work better than speaking.
Trial Before Pilate
Matthew 27:14 places Jesus bound as a prisoner in the Roman judgment hall before Pilate as the Jewish leaders seek His condemnation, in the trial before He was led away to be crucified, amid the multitude reviling Him and crying for His crucifixion. At that moment He appeared pale, bruised and faint from loss of sleep and food, yet noble in bearing with lighted countenance, while priests, scribes and rulers joined in noisy denunciation and demanded death on the claim that His admission to being King of the Jews proved sedition against Caesar. After the lawless uproar confused Pilate and some quiet was secured, Pilate asked why He answered nothing to the many charges against Him.
His calm, dignified appearance, with no sign of guilt, fear or defiance and no marks of a seditious character, made a favorable impression. Pilate distrusted and had no confidence in the priests' charges, and decided to examine the charges rather than condemn Him at once. Hoping to gain the truth and to escape the clamor of the excited crowd, he took Jesus alone into his house to question Him further about being King of the Jews.
His silence, dignified bearing, calm self-possession where hate and revenge would be natural, and forbearance so unlike man greatly astonished, perplexed and amazed Pilate and the throng. That bearing won Pilate's deep respect and strengthened the governor's conviction that Jesus was innocent and could not be as unjust as His accusers. Spectators looked on Him with wonder, compared His perfect and noble form and firm, dignified bearing with those sitting in judgment against Him, and said to one another He looked more like a king to be entrusted with a kingdom than any of the rulers. He bore no marks of being a criminal, with mild, clear and undaunted eye, broad and high forehead, and every feature strongly marked with benevolence and noble principle, and He had many sympathizers in that company, so that many trembled and even Herod and Pilate were greatly troubled at His noble, God-like bearing.
Meaning of His Silence
He had already spoken with Pilate alone to bring the light of truth to the governor's understanding, and now there was nothing more to say that could keep Pilate from condemning Him to death. He therefore remained unmoved and silent while the accusations and abuse continued, saying nothing more amid the uproar. When Pilate asked about the many charges, questions, insults and mockery set against Him, He answered nothing, dignified and composed, with no frown and no troubled expression. His silence showed conscious innocence and calm strength, and superior wisdom, as eloquent evidence that He was unmoved by the hostile crowd. The anger and abuse around Him did not move Him to retaliate.
Those who witnessed His forbearance toward His betrayer were amazed and felt that He was more than mortal. Yet they wondered why He did not free Himself and overcome His accusers. Standing as humanity's representative, though He could have delivered Himself, He accepted humiliation, condemnation and death without answering because He had given His life for the world. In this He stands as an example of faith standing against human power and injustice when the priests and rulers forced the Roman governor to do their will.
He foresaw this most trying ordeal of betrayal, condemnation, humiliation, rejection, insult, fear and disappointment, and knew who among His followers were unbelieving and of weak faith. He deliberately allowed the earlier crisis of defection while He was still present to comfort and strengthen His chosen disciples, sifting out the faint-hearted. Thus when the betrayal, condemnation, insult, fear and disappointment came, the faithful would not be overwhelmed with surprise, sink beneath it, or be carried away by the example of professed followers turning from Him in His trouble, having already tested the inconstant favor of the world. His eloquent silence teaches those who feel indignation at injustice to restrain their words, since in such circumstances silence can express wisdom and serve the work better than speaking. This restraint at trial contrasts with His willingness to guide the sinner who asks for the way of life.
Jesus stood bound as a prisoner before Pilate in the Roman judgment hall while the priests and rulers loudly demanded His death, and when Pilate asked why He answered nothing to the many charges against Him, He gave Him no reply. He appeared pale, bruised and faint from loss of sleep and food, yet noble and dignified in bearing with no sign of guilt, fear or defiance. His calm self-possession and forbearance under hate and abuse greatly astonished Pilate and the throng, won the governor's deep respect, and strengthened his conviction that Jesus was innocent. He had already spoken privately to bring the light of truth to Pilate's understanding, and His continued silence showed conscious innocence, calm strength and superior wisdom that would not retaliate. Standing as humanity's representative He accepted humiliation and condemnation without answering because He had given His life for the world, and His restraint teaches those who face injustice that silence can express wisdom and serve the work better than speaking.
Trial Before Pilate
Matthew 27:14 places Jesus bound as a prisoner in the Roman judgment hall before Pilate as the Jewish leaders seek His condemnation, in the trial before He was led away to be crucified, amid the multitude reviling Him and crying for His crucifixion. At that moment He appeared pale, bruised and faint from loss of sleep and food, yet noble in bearing with lighted countenance, while priests, scribes and rulers joined in noisy denunciation and demanded death on the claim that His admission to being King of the Jews proved sedition against Caesar. After the lawless uproar confused Pilate and some quiet was secured, Pilate asked why He answered nothing to the many charges against Him.
His calm, dignified appearance, with no sign of guilt, fear or defiance and no marks of a seditious character, made a favorable impression. Pilate distrusted and had no confidence in the priests' charges, and decided to examine the charges rather than condemn Him at once. Hoping to gain the truth and to escape the clamor of the excited crowd, he took Jesus alone into his house to question Him further about being King of the Jews.
His silence, dignified bearing, calm self-possession where hate and revenge would be natural, and forbearance so unlike man greatly astonished, perplexed and amazed Pilate and the throng. That bearing won Pilate's deep respect and strengthened the governor's conviction that Jesus was innocent and could not be as unjust as His accusers. Spectators looked on Him with wonder, compared His perfect and noble form and firm, dignified bearing with those sitting in judgment against Him, and said to one another He looked more like a king to be entrusted with a kingdom than any of the rulers. He bore no marks of being a criminal, with mild, clear and undaunted eye, broad and high forehead, and every feature strongly marked with benevolence and noble principle, and He had many sympathizers in that company, so that many trembled and even Herod and Pilate were greatly troubled at His noble, God-like bearing.
Meaning of His Silence
He had already spoken with Pilate alone to bring the light of truth to the governor's understanding, and now there was nothing more to say that could keep Pilate from condemning Him to death. He therefore remained unmoved and silent while the accusations and abuse continued, saying nothing more amid the uproar. When Pilate asked about the many charges, questions, insults and mockery set against Him, He answered nothing, dignified and composed, with no frown and no troubled expression. His silence showed conscious innocence and calm strength, and superior wisdom, as eloquent evidence that He was unmoved by the hostile crowd. The anger and abuse around Him did not move Him to retaliate.
Those who witnessed His forbearance toward His betrayer were amazed and felt that He was more than mortal. Yet they wondered why He did not free Himself and overcome His accusers. Standing as humanity's representative, though He could have delivered Himself, He accepted humiliation, condemnation and death without answering because He had given His life for the world. In this He stands as an example of faith standing against human power and injustice when the priests and rulers forced the Roman governor to do their will.
He foresaw this most trying ordeal of betrayal, condemnation, humiliation, rejection, insult, fear and disappointment, and knew who among His followers were unbelieving and of weak faith. He deliberately allowed the earlier crisis of defection while He was still present to comfort and strengthen His chosen disciples, sifting out the faint-hearted. Thus when the betrayal, condemnation, insult, fear and disappointment came, the faithful would not be overwhelmed with surprise, sink beneath it, or be carried away by the example of professed followers turning from Him in His trouble, having already tested the inconstant favor of the world. His eloquent silence teaches those who feel indignation at injustice to restrain their words, since in such circumstances silence can express wisdom and serve the work better than speaking. This restraint at trial contrasts with His willingness to guide the sinner who asks for the way of life.