Bible Strands
Mark 14:61
But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The high priest stands before the council and questions Jesus a second time after Jesus initially refused to answer. This exchange occurs during the nighttime trial following Jesus' arrest.
The words — The Greek ἐσιώπα (esiōpa) translates literally as "He was silent," joined with οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίνατο (ouden apekrinato) for "He did not answer anything." These terms mark a deliberate, unbroken refusal to respond to the high priest's charge.
The thread — Jesus' silence fulfills the pattern of the suffering servant who "did not open His mouth" in Isaiah 53:7 and matches the identical record in Matthew 26:63. This restraint contrasts with His later measured reply to Pilate in Mark 15:2.
Why it lands — The text records Jesus withholding a verbal defense when directly asked if He is the Christ. It requires the reader to acknowledge that silence operates here as a conscious answer to religious authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
- Mark 15:2 So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
- Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”
- John 19:7 “We have a law,” answered the Jews, “and according to that law He must die, because He declared Himself to be the Son of God.”
- Luke 22:67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe.
- John 10:36 then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?
- 1 Peter 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
- Psalms 2:7 I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
- Psalms 39:1 For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”