Mark 14:60 kjv
And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mark 14:60 nkjv
And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?"
Mark 14:60 niv
Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?"
Mark 14:60 esv
And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?"
Mark 14:60 nlt
Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Mark 14 60 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 26:62 | And the high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer…?” | Parallel account, High Priest's query |
| Lk 22:67 | “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe…” | Similar demand for a direct answer |
| Is 53:7 | He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter… | Jesus' prophetic silence under suffering |
| Acts 8:32 | The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb… | Philip's interpretation of Isa 53, Jesus' silence |
| Mt 27:12-14 | And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing… | Jesus' continued silence before Pilate |
| Mk 14:56 | For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. | Context of contradictory false witnesses |
| Ps 27:12 | Do not deliver me over to the desire of my enemies; For false witnesses have risen against me… | Plea against false accusation |
| Ps 35:11 | Fierce witnesses rise up; they ask me about things I do not know. | Description of malicious false witnesses |
| Ps 38:13 | But I, like a deaf man, hear not; And like a mute who cannot open his mouth. | Speaking of a righteous person's silence |
| Jn 18:20 | Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where… | Jesus' public teaching, nothing hidden |
| Lev 16:32 | And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as high priest in his father’s place, shall… | High Priest's role and authority |
| Heb 4:14 | Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God… | Jesus as the true High Priest |
| Job 13:5 | Oh that you would altogether hold your peace, and it would be your wisdom! | The wisdom in silence |
| Ecc 3:7 | A time to tear, and a time to mend; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; | Timeliness of silence/speech |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten… | Jesus' submissive non-retaliation |
| Jn 1:49 | Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” | Confession of Jesus' identity |
| Mk 15:3 | And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. | His silence before secular authority |
| Phil 2:8 | And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death… | Jesus' ultimate obedience and humility |
| Lk 23:9 | Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. | Jesus' silence before Herod |
| Is 43:26 | Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted. | Call for a legal defense (in contrast) |
| Jn 19:9 | and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. | Pilate's question, Jesus' continued silence |
Mark 14 verses
Mark 14 60 Meaning
Mark 14:60 captures a critical juncture in Jesus' illegal night trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin. The High Priest, Caiaphas, stands up in frustration, directly confronting Jesus and demanding a response to the chaotic and conflicting testimonies of the false witnesses. His question underscores the desperation of the Sanhedrin to find grounds for condemnation, pushing Jesus to break His silence and offer a defense or a self-incriminating statement.
Mark 14 60 Context
Mark chapter 14 describes a tumultuous period in Jesus' life leading to His crucifixion. It begins with plots against Him, the anointing at Bethany, Judas' betrayal, the Last Supper, and prayer in Gethsemane. Following His arrest, Jesus is brought before the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish judicial body. Verses 53-59 describe the illegal night trial, where many false witnesses come forward, but their testimonies contradict each other, failing to provide a consistent basis for condemnation. Jesus has remained silent throughout these accusations. Verse 60 marks the moment the High Priest, frustrated by the lack of conclusive evidence and Jesus' non-response, directly interjects, escalating the trial to a direct confrontation, seeking to extract a confession or blasphemy that could lead to a death sentence.
Mark 14 60 Word analysis
- And (Καί - Kai): A common conjunction, here it signifies a direct progression of the narrative, highlighting a shift in the trial proceedings after the failure of the false witnesses.
- the high priest (ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς - ho archiereus): Refers specifically to Caiaphas (as context suggests, Mark 14:53). This title indicates the highest religious authority in Judaism, signifying not just a person but the embodiment of the Old Covenant system and its legal power. His office gave him judicial authority over religious matters.
- stood up (ἀναστὰς - anastas): Implies a decisive, authoritative action. It signals the High Priest taking personal charge, rising above the general commotion of the contradictory witnesses. This physical posture emphasizes his elevated role and the weight of his inquiry. It indicates a formal address.
- in the midst (εἰς τὸ μέσον - eis to meson): Literally "into the middle" or "in their midst." This phrase positions the High Priest prominently, drawing all attention to him as he intervenes in the proceedings. It signifies his central role and the formality of the judicial inquiry, surrounded by the Sanhedrin members.
- and asked (καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν - kai epērōtēsen): A direct, emphatic question. The High Priest is not simply inquiring but challenging, demanding an immediate answer. It carries a sense of interrogation.
- Jesus (τὸν Ἰησοῦν - ton Iēsoun): The object of the High Priest's direct accusation and demand. Jesus is specifically named, placing Him at the focal point of the High Priest's frustration.
- saying (λέγων - legōn): Introduces the direct words spoken by the High Priest.
- "Have You no answer?" (Οὐκ ἀποκρίνῃ οὐδὲν - Ouk apokrinēi ouden): A rhetorical question that conveys the High Priest's exasperation and impatience with Jesus' preceding silence. It's accusatory, implying that Jesus' silence is a sign of guilt or disrespect to the court. The negative "Ouk" expects a positive answer, demanding a response. This phrase reveals the High Priest's intent: to provoke a confession from Jesus Himself, as the external testimonies failed.
- "What is it these men testify against You?" (Τί οὗτοί σου καταμαρτυροῦσιν - Ti houtoi sou katamarturousin): "These men" refers to the many false witnesses mentioned in Mark 14:56-59. "Testify against" (καταμαρτυροῦσιν - katamarturousin) indicates an adversarial testimony, accusations intended to condemn. This phrase is not genuinely seeking clarification but reiterating the accusations, pressing Jesus to either confirm or deny them, thus providing evidence against Himself. It reflects a legal proceeding attempting to move past procedural failures.
Mark 14 60 Bonus section
The scene depicted in Mark 14:60 showcases several legal irregularities by Sanhedrin standards. The trial was held at night, which was against their own judicial code. Furthermore, the High Priest directly asking the accused to testify against himself ("Have You no answer?") was contrary to proper legal procedure, which required sufficient independent witness testimony. Jesus' initial silence, a powerful act of protest and fulfillment of prophecy, further infuriated the Sanhedrin, driving them to violate their own laws. This desperate attempt to solicit self-incrimination highlights their determination to condemn Jesus, revealing the verdict was predetermined, and the proceedings were merely a facade. The High Priest’s questioning wasn’t about seeking truth or justice but manufacturing a pretext for condemnation, a pattern seen again when he immediately asks Jesus if He is the Christ, the Son of the Blessed.
Mark 14 60 Commentary
Mark 14:60 portrays a dramatic shift in Jesus' trial. Having failed to find reliable charges from numerous false witnesses, the High Priest, Caiaphas, takes the stand personally. His act of "standing up in the midst" highlights the solemnity and authority of his intervention, conveying impatience and desperation. The direct challenge, "Have You no answer? What is it these men testify against You?", is not an unbiased legal query but an attempt to break Jesus' deliberate silence. This silence, prophetically foretold (Isa 53:7), confounded His accusers and underscored the injustice of the proceedings. By pressing Jesus directly, the High Priest sought to force a self-incrimination, bypassing the lack of credible external testimony. This moment sets the stage for Jesus' momentous declaration of His divine identity in the following verse, fulfilling the High Priest's underlying motive: to elicit a statement that could be deemed blasphemy under Jewish law, thus achieving their desired death sentence.