Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 27:13
Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
They witness against thee – This means, rather, that they accused him. They were not witnesses, but accusers. These accusations were repeated and pressed. They charged him with exciting the people, teaching throughout, all Judea from Galilee to Jerusalem, and exciting the nation to sedition, Luk 23:5.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Then saith Pilate unto him,…. Observing he made no reply to the accusations of the chief priests and elders, and in order to draw something out of him,
hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? art thou deaf? or dost thou not take in what is alleged against thee? dost thou not consider the nature of these charges? how many, and of what kind the depositions are now made by persons of such rank and figure? art thou under no concern to make answer to them?
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘Then says Pilate to him, “Do you not hear how many things they witness against you?” ’
So He tried to chivvy Jesus into making a defence. “Do you not hear how many things they witness against you?” Surely Jesus could at least dispose of some of the charges, and at the same time explain His true position. Note how we have an indication here of the wide ranging charges that they had brought against Him, simply hoping that one would impress Pilate. These included perverting the nation, calling on people not to pay their taxes to Caesar, and claiming to be a king (Luk 23:2).
Pilate was not used to silent prisoners apart from those whose guilt was obvious. And it would in fact be difficult to understand what follows if we did not have the explanation given in Joh 18:33-38, for it is impossible to believe that, in view of His silence, Pilate made no attempt to interrogate Him and reason with Him privately. The defence given by the accused was an important part of Roman justice. Matthew is, however, not interested in the detail. He simply wants it recognised that Pilate was not really wanting to be involved in the case.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Ver. 13. Hearest thou not, &c. ] Yes, well enough; but there is a time when a man should be as a “deaf man that heareth not, and as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth,” Psa 38:13 . Ego aurium Dominus, ut tu linguae, said he in Tacitus to his obstreperous adversary. If I cannot command thy tongue, yet I can command mine own ears. And the “prudent will keep silence in an evil time,” saith Amos, Amo 5:13 . See Trapp on “ Mat 26:62 “ Patience and silence were Isaac’s apology to Ishmael. Sile, et funestam dedisti plagam, saith Chrysostom.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 27:13 . ilate noting His silence directs His attention to what they have been saying.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 27:13. , then) Pilate conducted himself moderately at first in the judgment of the cause.-,[1182] Pilatus, Pilate) Nonnus shortens the middle syllable; and passim, the Greeks sharpen[1183] the long vowel of the Latins in , , etc. (primus, Torqutus, Dentatus, etc.)- , Dost thou not hear?) A separate question;[1184] cf. Mar 15:4.
[1182] Lachm. and Tisch. write it .-ED.
[1183] i.e. They distinguish it with the acute accent.-(I. B.)
[1184] Although joined in the V. G. with the following words.-E. B.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Hearest: Mat 26:62, Joh 18:35, Act 22:24
Reciprocal: Psa 69:12 – They Mar 15:4 – Answerest
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3-14
Pilate was surprised at the silence of Juses in the face of accusations made by the chief priests. This was the same thing that happened in the presence of the high priest (Mat 26:62).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 27:13. How many things! Comp. Luk 22:5, as a specimen of the testimony, or accusations, they brought. The main charge was true in form, but false in fact: His claim to be a king was not a political offence. So as to the evidence: He had stirred up the people, etc., but not to mutiny or for political purposes. Honest advocates at the bar should avoid the tricks of these murderers of Christ.