Matthew 27:13

Mat 27:13. Τότε, then) Pilate conducted himself moderately at first in the judgment of the cause.—Πιλάτος,[1182] Pilatus, Pilate) Nonnus shortens the middle syllable; and passim, the Greeks sharpen[1183] the long vowel of the Latins in πρίμος, Τουρκουάτος Δειτάτος, etc. (primus, Torquátus, Dentatus, etc.)—οὐκ ἀκούεις, Dost thou not hear?) A separate question;[1184] cf. Mar 15:4.

[1182] Lachm. and Tisch. write it Πιλᾶτος.—ED.

[1183] i.e. They distinguish it with the acute accent.—(I. B.)

[1184] Although joined in the V. G. with the following words.—E. B.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mat 27:13 . ilate noting His silence directs His attention to what they have been saying.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then saith Pilate unto him,.... Observing he made no reply to the accusations of the chief priests and elders, and in order to draw something out of him,

hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? art thou deaf? or dost thou not take in what is alleged against thee? dost thou not consider the nature of these charges? how many, and of what kind the depositions are now made by persons of such rank and figure? art thou under no concern to make answer to them?

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

Ver. 13. Hearest thou not, &c.] Yes, well enough; but there is a time when a man should be as a "deaf man that heareth not, and as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth," Psa 38:13. Ego aurium Dominus, ut tu linguae, said he in Tacitus to his obstreperous adversary. If I cannot command thy tongue, yet I can command mine own ears. And the "prudent will keep silence in an evil time," saith Amos, Amo 5:13. {See Trapp on "Mat 26:62"} Patience and silence were Isaac’s apology to Ishmael. Sile, et funestam dedisti plagam, saith Chrysostom.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They witness against thee - This means, rather, that they accused him. They were not “witnesses,” but accusers. These accusations were repeated and pressed. They charged him with exciting the people, teaching throughout, all Judea from Galilee to Jerusalem, and exciting the nation to sedition, Luk 23:5.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Hearest thou not how many things (posa , quanta, what great things) they witness against thee? Among the charges was one that Jesus stirred up the people to revolt, both in Galilee and Judaea. The mention of Galilee offered to Pilate a chance of escaping the responsibility of the trial, and led to his sending Christ to Herod, as St. Luke relates. (Luk_23:6-12) It was on the return from Herod that the final scene took place. Pilate evidently did not believe that this dignified, meek, inoffensive Man was guilty of sedition, and he desired to hear his defence, which he was willing to receive favourably. (Act_3:13)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13, 14. He gave no answer. To their charges of seeking to establish a worldly kingdom and of stirring up sedition he returned not a word. His impressive silence moved Pilate deeply.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

(M) 13. Then Pilate saith to Him, Dost Thou not hear how many things they witness against Thee?] Mk. has: “And Pilate again was asking Him, saying, Dost Thou not answer anything? See of how many things they accuse Thee.”—τότε] see on 2:7. Mt., as often, omits Mk.’s πάλιν, and avoids his imperf. ἐπηρώτα.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.