Matthew 27:12

12 But he said nothing in response to the accusations of the chief priests and elders.

Matthew 27:12 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:12

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders,
&c.] As that he was a perverter of the people, a stirrer of sedition, discord, and rebellion among them; that he taught them not to give tribute to Caesar, and set up himself for a king; all which he had done not in one place only, but throughout all the land of Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem; see ( Luke 23:2 Luke 23:5 ) ,

he answered nothing;
the things laid to his charge being notoriously false, and known to be so by all the people; and the evidence with which they were supported being so slender, the judge could never receive it; he therefore judged it unnecessary, and not worth a while to return an answer to them: besides, he knew they were bent upon his death, and that, should he set aside these charges, as he easily could, they would invent new ones, and so increase their sin, and their condemnation: but the chief reason of all, of his silence, was, he had the sins of his people to answer for, and the time of his dying for them was now come, and for which he was ready; and therefore would say nothing to remove these false charges, and retard his death.

Matthew 27:12 In-Context

10 and used the money to buy the potter's field, as the Lord had commanded me."
11 Jesus stood before the Roman governor, who questioned him. "Are you the king of the Jews?" he asked. "So you say," answered Jesus.
12 But he said nothing in response to the accusations of the chief priests and elders.
13 So Pilate said to him, "Don't you hear all these things they accuse you of?"
14 But Jesus refused to answer a single word, with the result that the Governor was greatly surprised.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.