Bible Strands
Matthew 27:12
And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus stands before Pilate after answering that He is King of the Jews. The chief priests and elders are bringing formal accusations against Him while Pilate waits for a response.
The words — κατηγορεῖσθαι (katēgoreisthai) translates literally as "to be accused" or "to bring charges against." The passive construction emphasizes that Jesus is the object of their legal proceedings rather than an active participant in them.
The thread — This silence directly parallels Jesus’ refusal to answer the high priest in Matthew 26:63 and aligns with the prophetic description in Isaiah 53:7. Matthew 27:13 immediately follows by noting Pilate’s reaction to the unbroken silence.
Why it lands — The text records Jesus’ deliberate refusal to defend Himself against false charges. It requires the reader to accept that divine kingship operates outside human legal defense and does not require self-justification.
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
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
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.”
- 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.
- Matthew 27:14 But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.
- Mark 15:3 And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.
- John 19:9 and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer.
- Acts 8:32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- 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 38:13 But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.