Pilate entered into the Praetorium again and had Jesus brought inside with him so that he could talk with the prisoner in private.

Pilate’s question to Jesus is not one of ascertaining from what province Jesus came since Pilate already knew He was from Galilee (Luke 23:5-7). Interestingly enough, Pilate also uses an emphatic pronoun “you” in addressing Jesus. Although the usage at times indicates contempt, in this case Pilate is probably expressing incredulity. Although he fears its possiblity, he cannot believe that this man standing before him could possibly be a son of a god. Note that this was a similar question to the one asked by the Jews in (John 8:25).

Luke 23:5-7  But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”  On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.  When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

John 8:25  “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied.

Jesus is silent before Pilate in fulfillment of prophecy (Isa 53:7). Jesus was also silent before the accusations of the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:62-63) and before Herod (Luke 23:8-9). His silence before Pilate (Matt 27:12-14) stands out rather starkly since He had been conversing so freely up to this point. Jesus is not being contemptuous of Pilate or his office; His silence is probably for three reasons. First, He had in effect already answered it (John 18:37). Secondly, if He had truthfully answered Pilate in a manner that Pilate could have understood, He would never have been crucified (1 Cor 2:8) and the will of the Father would not have been accomplished. And thirdly, Pilate probably could not have understood it anyway. Temple notes that “With his mind full of stories about gods who married women, and of the offspring of such unions, how can he begin to understand the relation of Jesus, Son of God, to the Father?”

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 26:62-63  Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”  But Jesus remained silent. 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.”

Luke 23:8-9  When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.  He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.

Matthew 27:12-14  When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”  But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

John 18:37  “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

1 Corinthians 2:8  None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Sometimes it is best for us to be silent before others, because we have no common ground for conversation. We are warned by Jesus of sharing deep spiritual truths with those who are not of the faith (Matt 7:6).

Matthew 7:6  “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

Barclay observes that “It is a terrible day when Jesus is silent to a man. There can be nothing more terrible than for a man’s mind to be so shut by his pride and his self-will, that there is nothing Jesus can say to him that will make any difference.”