Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 15:4
And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
4. And Pilate asked ] These renewed accusations led to further questions from Pilate, but our Lord preserved a complete silence. This increased the procurator’s astonishment, but he thought he had found an escape from his dilemma, when he heard the word “ Galilee.” Galilee was within the province of Herod Antipas, and he sent the case to his tribunal (Luk 23:6-12). But Herod also affirmed that the Accused had done nothing worthy of punishment, and Pilate finding the case thrown back upon his hands, now resolved to try another experiment for escaping from the responsibility of a direct decision.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And Pilate asked him again,…. In the presence of the chief priests, who laid so many things to his charge; for the former question was put, when Jesus and he were alone in the judgment hall, whither the Jews would not enter for fear of being defiled; see
John 18:28;
saying, answerest thou nothing behold how many things they witness against thee? The charges were many, and very heinous, and which Pilate thought called for self-defence; [See comments on Mt 27:13].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “And Pilate asked Him again, saying,” (ho de Pilatos palin eperota auton [legon]) “Then Pilate quizzed Him saying,” repeatedly, though he had already seen and heard enough that he did not believe Jesus was at all guilty of the bill of charges brought by the Sanhedrin, Luk 23:4.
2) “Answerest thou nothing?” (ouk apokrine ouden) “Do you make no reply at all?;” or do you not want to answer or respond to anything? And He did not, at that point.
3) “Behold how many things they witness against thee.” (ide posa sou kategorousin) “You should notice of how many and how serious things they accuse you,” Mat 27:13; They even accused Him of “forbidding to pay tribute to Caesar,” Luk 23:2. They lied about this and it appears that Pilate knew it, Mat 17:27; Mat 22:21; Mar 12:17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘And Pilate asked him saying, “Do you answer nothing? See how many things they accuse you of.” But Jesus no longer made any reply insomuch that Pilate marvelled.’’
Jesus’ silence did more to convince Pilate of His innocence than any protest. He was experienced enough to recognise the special pleading of the accusers and to note that they had no real evidence. And he did not like them anyway. But neither could he understand this man who made no attempt to defend Himself. Roman justice very much depended on the defence of the accused. John also explains that he did at this stage challenge Jesus about this and that at Jesus’ reply he became even more convinced of His innocence (Joh 19:10-11).
But John also tells us why he gave way. He gave way because he was threatened that if he let Jesus go they would accuse him to Caesar of ignoring a rebel claimant to kingship and of not being ‘Caesar’s friend’, a title of honour. In other words they would stir up trouble for him. He had had trouble with them in the past and so he knew that this could become serious for him. Thus just letting Jesus go would not be worth the trouble it would cause, so he therefore tried another tack. In order to understand his ‘wriggling’ we have to remember that he had only recently had charges made against him to Caesar and had been reprimanded. he would not want it to happen again.
‘Pilate marvelled (thaumazein).’ Consider Isa 52:15 LXX, ‘Thus will many nations wonder (thaumasontai) at Him, and kings will keep their mouths shut, for they to whom no report was brought concerning Him, will see, and they who have not heard, will consider’. Pilate was clearly impressed by Jesus.
But we can be sure that Jesus was well aware that the outcome of His case would not depend on the truth being established. Why waste time arguing when He knew that the case was wholly political and would be decided by political pressure? He simply refused to get involved and become embroiled with people like the Chief Priests..
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 15:4 . , answering to in Mar 15:3 , might mean “how grave,” Thayer’s Grimm , but probably = how many, as in Mar 6:38 , Mar 8:5 ; Mar 8:19 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Answerest: Mat 26:62, Mat 27:13, Joh 19:10
Reciprocal: Act 25:7 – and laid
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Pilate called the attention of Jesus to the accusations, doubtless thinking that he had not noticed them, or at any rate had not observed the nature of them.