John 19:9

9 He went into the palace again and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus didn't answer him.

John 19:9 Meaning and Commentary

John 19:9

And went again into the judgment hall
From whence he came out, taking Jesus along with him, in order to interrogate him alone upon this head:

and saith unto Jesus, whence art thou?
meaning not of what country he was, for he knew he was of the nation of the Jews; nor in what place he was born, whether at Bethlehem or at Nazareth, for this was no concern of his; but from whence he sprung, who were his ancestors, and whether his descent was from the gods, or from men; and if from the former, from which of them; for as Pilate was an Heathen, he must be supposed to speak as such:

but Jesus gave him no answer;
for his question was frivolous, and deserved none; and besides, he was not worthy of one, who had used him so ill, when he knew, in his own conscience, that he was innocent; nor was he capable of taking in an answer, or able to judge whether it was right or wrong; and since Christ was come to die for the salvation of his people, it was not proper he should say anything that might be a means of hindering it.

John 19:9 In-Context

7 The Jews answered Pilate, "We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God."
8 When Pilate heard them say that, he became more afraid than ever.
9 He went into the palace again and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus didn't answer him.
10 So Pilate said to Jesus, "Aren't you going to answer me? Don't you know that I have the authority to free you or to crucify you?"
11 Jesus answered Pilate, "You wouldn't have any authority over me if it hadn't been given to you from above. That's why the man who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
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