11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. (Matthew 27:11-14 KJV)
Jesus Before Pilate
We have here an account of what happened in Pilate’s judgment hall when Jesus was brought there early in the morning. Though it wasn’t an official court day, Pilate immediately took the case.
Jesus stood before the governor as a prisoner before a judge. We could not stand before God because of our sins if Christ had not been made sin for us. He stood in this judgment so that we might stand in God’s judgment. Some believe this shows his courage—he stood undaunted, unmoved by their rage, a public spectacle, like Naboth when he was arraigned (1 Kings 21:12).
The indictment was: “Are you the king of the Jews?” (Matthew 27:11). The Jews were under Roman rule and discontent with it, yet they pretended loyalty to Rome to accuse Jesus as an enemy of Caesar (Luke 23:2). Their only evidence was that he had recently admitted he was the Christ. They assumed that if he was the Christ, he must be aiming to rule the Jews and free them from Roman power. Based on this false idea, they accused him of rebellion. Though Jesus said he was the Christ, he didn’t mean a political king. Many people oppose Christianity based on misunderstandings about its nature. The Jews assured Pilate that calling himself Christ was equal to claiming kingship, so Pilate assumed he was trying to undermine the government. “Are you a king?” It was clear he wasn’t one in action—but did he claim a right to rule the Jews?
It’s often been the sad fate of Christianity to be unfairly suspected by political leaders, as if it’s harmful to society, when it actually benefits it.
Jesus responded, “You say so” (Matthew 27:11)—meaning, “Yes, but not in the way you think. I am a king, but not the kind you suspect.” In this, Jesus made a good confession before Pilate, not ashamed to admit his kingship, even though it seemed ridiculous or dangerous (1 Timothy 6:13).
He was accused by the chief priests, but Pilate found no fault in him (Matthew 27:12). Still, they kept bringing accusations with noise and force, thinking repetition would persuade the governor. They had learned not only how to falsely accuse, but how to do it boldly. The best people have often been accused of the worst crimes.
Jesus answered nothing. There was no need—nothing they said had substance. He was focused on offering himself to the Father as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and in submission to his Father’s will, he silently entrusted himself to God, who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23). Unlike Jesus, we must not remain silent at the cost of our lives, because we don’t have control over our time or purpose as he did. But we must learn not to return evil for evil.
Pilate urged him to respond: “Don’t you hear how many things they’re testifying against you?” (Matthew 27:13). From Luke 23:3-5 and John 19:7, we know some of these accusations. Pilate, having no hatred toward Jesus and believing he could defend himself, encouraged him to speak. Yes, Jesus heard them—just as he still hears every false accusation against his truth—but he kept silent, because this was the time of his patience. He will answer one day (Psalm 50:3).
Pilate marveled at his silence (Matthew 27:14). It wasn’t taken as contempt for the court, but as something deeply unusual. Pilate believed Jesus was innocent and had likely heard that no one ever spoke like him. So it amazed him that Jesus had nothing to say in his own defense.