Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great testimonies they allege against thee?
τοτε λεγει αυτω ο πιλατος ουκ ακουεις ποσα σου καταμαρτυρουσιν
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Pilate tried to set Christ free, though he did not do so with the conviction that was necessary, as he needed to uphold the truth. Initially, he questioned the Lord, saying, “Hast thou not heard that they testify against thee?” His inquiry was made in hopes that if Christ could be vindicated, he would find the opportunity to release Him.
Indeed, the one who condemns Jesus is a non-Jew; however, he attributes the reason for this verdict to the Jewish people. Have you not heard how many witnesses stand against you?
He speaks this, encouraging Jesus Christ to justify Himself and set Himself free, for He understood that He could readily counter their accusations.
It may strike you as remarkable, dear friends, that the Lord, when confronted by the chief priests before Pilate the governor, chooses to remain silent, offering no defense against their false accusations. Indeed, one might think that a continuous charge would compel Him to respond. It is astonishing, I assert, that the Redeemer faces these allegations yet chooses not to speak. Silence is often interpreted as agreement; when a person declines to answer what is put to them, it might seem they acquiesce to the claims made against them. Does this imply that the Lord consents to the accusations simply by His silence? Absolutely not; His silence actually denies the charges, as He does not engage with them.
One who requires no justification will find it prudent to remain quiet, while one who fears defeat will hasten to defend themselves. However, Christ, even in condemnation, prevails; when He is judged, He triumphs—as the psalmist proclaims, “So Thou art just in Thy judgment, and pure in Thy judgment” (Psalms 50:6). Why, then, would He need to speak before the trial, if the trial itself signifies His ultimate victory?
The authorities directed numerous accusations against Him (Mark 15:3). The Sanhedrin remained unyielding to the voice of truth, persistently hostile towards Jesus. They vocally attacked Him with malice, attempting to pressure Pilate into condemning Him. St Luke recounts the allegations made by His adversaries, stating, ‘they said that He was stirring up the people throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee’ (Luke 23:5). While the Sanhedrin launched a barrage of falsehoods at Jesus, He remained composed and silent. The contrast between the accusers and the accused was evident. ‘Why do you not respond? Do you see how many charges are brought against You?’ Pilate inquired. ‘Jesus answered nothing, so that Pilate marvelled’ (Mark 15:4, 5).
Jesus' silence was understandable; the accusations from the Jews lacked credibility and did not merit a response, as both Pilate and the accusers were already aware of Jesus' true character (John 18:20). Pilate recognized the weight of Jesus' silence and was astonished by His tranquility and clarity amidst the overwhelming storm of hostility.
Pilate then questioned him, 'Why are you silent? Do you not understand how many testimonies are raised against you?'
Pilate, noticing the determination of the chief priests, proposed that Jesus be set free, adhering to the tradition of releasing a prisoner during Passover. This would allow the verdict of the Sanhedrin to remain intact while keeping the accused alive. To appease the animosity of the chief priests towards Jesus, Pilate ordered Him to be scourged. However, the crowd, following the orders of the chief priests, shouted for Barabbas to be released instead, insisting that Jesus should not be freed.
As Pilate wrestled with the decision before him, he received a message from his wife, who had recently experienced a troubling dream related to the Righteous One. Without mentioning His name, she urged him not to condemn this Just One, a concern that Pilate recognized (Matt. 27:19). Consequently, Pilate found himself even more inclined to release Jesus. The idea of executing someone deemed divine weighed heavily on his conscience, even as a Roman official.
However, the chief priests intensified their pressure, directly accusing Jesus of inciting the people against authority. They claimed that He was misleading the populace and advising them against paying tribute to Caesar. Thus, they began to expand upon their initial charges (Luke 23:2), asserting that Jesus propagated this teaching while originating from Galilee.
Ultimately, Pilate questioned, "Are you not aware of how many testify against you?" (Matthew 27:13) Yet, to this inquiry, Jesus remained silent. The accusations brought against Him seemed rather trivial to Pilate, as he turned to the chief priests and the assembled crowd, declaring, "I see no reason for condemnation of this man."
The profound impact of Christ's teachings on those who listened (Jn. 7:46), the deep affection of the crowds who stayed with Him for days (Mk. 8:2), the large number of followers (Lk. 6:17), the breach of traditional rabbinical laws (Mk. 7:3, 4) and the observance of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:2; Jn. 5:16; 9:16), the cleansing of the temple from merchants (Jn. 2:18; Mt. 21:12), and the miracles that attracted the masses (Mt. 4:24, 25) were all recalled by the Jews. However, they twisted these events to cast blame on the Lord Jesus. The accused, recognizing that ‘the trial was not according to the truth’ (Blessed Theophylacius), and aware that no reasoning would sway his numerous adversaries, remained silent before the chief priests and elders.
This silence likely pleased Christ’s foes; they may have feared that the Defendant, with His remarkable eloquence, could easily dismantle the intricate fabric of lies they had spun to ensnare the Roman governor. Such an outcome would necessitate further effort on their part, potentially delaying the detailed proceedings until after the feast—something they sought to avoid, hoping to obscure the baseless nature of their charges through a swift verdict. Pilate, convinced of the Lord’s innocence and aware that jealousy was the true motive behind the accusations (Matthew 27:18), approached Him in confusion, asking, ‘Do you answer nothing? - Hear not how many testify against Thee? - See how many testify against Thee!’ Yet the Lord offered no response, leaving Pilate astonished at the seemingly unwarranted silence of the Defendant and the apparent neglect of His own defense.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 10 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS