Q: In Matthew 27:11-13, Jesus is said to be silent while being accused by the chief priests and elders, and when Pilate asks Jesus, Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?, Jesus answered him not one word. This is quite a contrast from what is depicted in the Gospel of John! In John 18, Jesus and Pilate carry on a short conversation.
A: Matthew is describing the trial-session before Pilate; Jesus gave no answer to the chief priests at the point where they were standing before Pilate, and did not enter into a defense of Himself even when Pilate asked Him if He was aware of the multitude of charges being brought against Him. The scene that John describes in John 18:33ff. is not part of the trial-proceedings, but a discussion held in chambers, so to speak. In John 18:33 Pilate entered the Praetorium, and calls Jesus. It is then and only then that Jesus begins to speak to Pilate -- when Jesus is not in the presence of His accusers. After this, Pilate returns to the trial-proceedings (in Jn. 18:38), at which point Jesus is again silent.
Then, a little later, in John 19 (after Jesus scourging), Pilate once again summoned Jesus into chambers, and again Jesus spoke with him. But in the trial-proceedings themselves, Jesus deferred from defending/explaining Himself.
(Note: in the SAB sidebar, the chapter-number 18 should be inserted in the sentence But in John (33-38), Jesus makes long speeches during his trial.)
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: Matthew is describing the trial-session before Pilate; Jesus gave no answer to the chief priests at the point where they were standing before Pilate, and did not enter into a defense of Himself even when Pilate asked Him if He was aware of the multitude of charges being brought against Him. The scene that John describes in John 18:33ff. is not part of the trial-proceedings, but a discussion held in chambers, so to speak. In John 18:33 Pilate entered the Praetorium, and calls Jesus. It is then and only then that Jesus begins to speak to Pilate -- when Jesus is not in the presence of His accusers. After this, Pilate returns to the trial-proceedings (in Jn. 18:38), at which point Jesus is again silent.
Then, a little later, in John 19 (after Jesus scourging), Pilate once again summoned Jesus into chambers, and again Jesus spoke with him. But in the trial-proceedings themselves, Jesus deferred from defending/explaining Himself.
(Note: in the SAB sidebar, the chapter-number 18 should be inserted in the sentence But in John (33-38), Jesus makes long speeches during his trial.)
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
