And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Read Chapter 27
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
And when He was accused of the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing1. Because all the charges against Him were false, and deserved not an answer. So S. Augustine (Serm. cxviii. de Temp.), "The Lord by keeping silence does not confirm the charge, but makes light of it. For far better is that cause which is undefended, and yet is successful; that justice is most complete which is not supported by words but is based on truth. The Saviour, who is Wisdom itself, knew how to conquer by silence, to overcome by not replying." 2. Jesus knew that any answer would be useless, and would only make the Jews more eager for His death3. For fear He should excuse His crime, and obtain His deliverance, and so the benefit of His death be deferred, says S. Jerome, "for He wished to he condemned through keeping silence, and to die for the salvation of men." So S. Ambrose (in Luc. xxii.), "He rightly keeps silence who needs not a defence. Let those who fear defeat be eager for defence. But why shoul...
This at any rate Pilate then asked. What then said Christ? You say. He confessed that He was a king, but a heavenly king, which elsewhere also He spoke more clearly, replying to Pilate, My kingdom is not of this world; John 18:36 that neither they nor this man should have an excuse for accusing Him of such things. And He gives a reason that cannot be gainsaid, saying, If I were of this world, my servants would fight, that I should not be delivered. For this purpose I say, in order to refute this suspicion, He both paid tribute, Matthew 22:17 and commanded others to pay it, and when they would make Him a king, He fled. John 6:15
Wherefore then did he not bring forward these things, it may be said, at that time, when accused of usurpation? Because having the proofs from His acts, of His power, His meekness, His gentleness, beyond number, they were willfully blind, and dealt unfairly, and the tribunal was corrupt. For these reasons then He replies to nothing, but holds His peace, yet a...
