Matthew 27 12

Matthew 27:12 kjv

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Matthew 27:12 nkjv

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

Matthew 27:12 niv

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.

Matthew 27:12 esv

But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.

Matthew 27:12 nlt

But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 12 Meaning

Matthew 27:12 describes Jesus' profound silence when formally accused by the chief priests and elders before Pontius Pilate. Despite severe and repeated accusations from the Jewish leaders, Jesus offered no defense, making no reply whatsoever. This silent endurance underscores His complete submission to the Father's will and fulfills Old Testament prophecies concerning the Suffering Servant.

Matthew 27 12 Context

Matthew 27:12 is situated within the narrative of Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. This verse specifically describes a pivotal moment following the Jewish religious leaders' official delivery of Jesus to Pilate and their vehement accusations against Him. Previously, Jesus had been tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin, condemned on charges of blasphemy, and then handed over to the Romans because the Jewish authorities lacked the power to carry out capital punishment. Pilate's interrogation (27:11) establishes Jesus' claim to be "King of the Jews," a political charge in Roman eyes. The verse highlights the relentless and unified opposition from the Jewish religious leadership (chief priests and elders), who were intensely hostile towards Jesus and determined to secure His death. This immediate context underscores the political and religious pressure on Pilate and sets up the dramatic contrast between the accusers' loud clamor and Jesus' profound quietude. Historically, the trial process involved the accused responding to charges; Jesus' silence was highly unusual and would have been noticeable to all present, particularly to a Roman official like Pilate who expected a defense.

Matthew 27 12 Word analysis

• When He was accused (Greek: κατηγορουμένου δὲ αὐτοῦ, katēgoroumenou de autou):

  • κατηγορουμένου (katēgoroumenou): This is a present middle/passive participle of katēgoreō, meaning "to accuse," "to bring charges against." The participle implies that the accusation was ongoing, a continuous or repeated act of the accusers. It's a legal term, denoting formal prosecution. The accusations were not merely whispers but declared charges intended for a legal verdict.
  • Significance: Jesus was not merely being criticized but was undergoing a formal judicial process with charges laid against Him. The "He" (autou) refers distinctly to Jesus.

• by the chief priests (Greek: ὑπὸ τῶν ἀρχιερέων, hypo tōn archiereōn):

  • ἀρχιερέων (archiereōn): Genitive plural of archiereus, meaning "chief priest." This group encompassed the serving High Priest (Caiaphas), former High Priests, and potentially members of the priestly aristocracy and heads of the 24 courses of priests.
  • Significance: These were the most powerful religious leaders of Israel, with significant influence in the Sanhedrin. Their united front against Jesus lends weight and official authority to the accusations. Their animosity was rooted in Jesus' challenge to their authority, His claims of divine sonship, and His purification of the temple.

• and elders (Greek: καὶ πρεσβυτέρων, kai presbyterōn):

  • πρεσβυτέρων (presbyterōn): Genitive plural of presbyteros, meaning "elder." These were lay leaders of the Jewish people, often prominent community members and scholars, who also comprised a significant portion of the Sanhedrin.
  • Significance: Their presence indicates the broader representation of the Jewish authoritative body, the Sanhedrin, in demanding Jesus' conviction. Their united action emphasizes the consensus among the Jewish ruling council for Jesus' death.

• He answered nothing (Greek: οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίνατο, ouden apekrīnato):

  • οὐδὲν (ouden): Accusative neuter singular of oudeis, meaning "nothing" or "not a single thing." This is an absolute negation, leaving no room for any form of reply.
  • ἀπεκρίνατο (apekrīnato): Aorist middle indicative, 3rd person singular of apokrinomai, "to answer" or "to reply." This verb indicates a specific act of answering that did not occur.
  • Significance: This is the profound heart of the verse. Jesus' complete silence is deeply significant. It fulfills prophecies (e.g., Isa 53:7). It signifies His humble submission to God's plan, His non-resistance to unjust suffering (1 Pet 2:23), and His refusal to legitimize the false accusations or engage in a debate that would serve no purpose. His silence could also be a regal silence, indicating that He did not need to defend His true kingship against their false charges or His divine nature against their spiritual blindness. It was a calculated, deliberate act of divine dignity and acquiescence to His messianic destiny.

Words-Group Analysis

• When He was accused... He answered nothing: This creates a striking juxtaposition between the noisy, relentless accusations and Jesus' absolute stillness. The verb katēgoroumenou (being accused) is continuous, while apekrīnato (answered) is a punctual past action. It implies that despite the barrage of ongoing accusations, Jesus did not make even one answer. This highlights His resolute non-response in the face of pressure.
• by the chief priests and elders: This phrase collectively identifies the key orchestrators of Jesus' trial and crucifixion. It emphasizes the unified institutional power and authority of the Jewish establishment ranged against Jesus. This group, representing the pinnacle of Israel's religious and societal leadership, paradoxically condemns its Messiah, underscoring their profound spiritual blindness and rejection of divine truth. This forms an implicit polemic against those who claim to speak for God but reject His Son.

Matthew 27 12 Bonus section

The profound impact of Jesus' silence is multi-layered. From a psychological perspective, silence in the face of accusation can be incredibly unsettling to the accusers and judges. Pilate's reaction ("greatly amazed" in Matt 27:14) suggests this unexpected response made a significant impression. Roman law often presumed guilt if no defense was offered; however, Jesus' silence transcends legal norms and transforms the accusation into a moment of spiritual testimony. The chief priests and elders, blinded by their malice and adherence to a distorted legalism, failed to recognize that their "trial" was fulfilling God's eternal redemptive purpose, and their noisy accusations were being rendered powerless by the dignified quietude of the innocent Lamb. Jesus' silence here sets a theological precedent, indicating that sometimes the most powerful response to unrighteousness is not argumentative defense but passive submission that trusts in the ultimate justice and power of God. This active passivity stands in stark contrast to the human impulse for self-preservation and highlights the divine nature of Jesus' actions.

Matthew 27 12 Commentary

Matthew 27:12 presents a pivotal and profound moment in Jesus' trial. Faced with a cascade of accusations from the highest Jewish religious authorities, Jesus chooses complete silence. This non-response is not born of weakness or inability to defend Himself, but rather out of divine wisdom, intentional submission, and prophetic fulfillment. His silence before His accusers directly echoes the Suffering Servant passages in Isaiah 53, particularly verse 7, which states, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He opened not His mouth."

This silent endurance serves multiple purposes:

1. Fulfillment of Prophecy: It unmistakably links Jesus to the Messianic figure foretold by Isaiah, underscoring His identity as the Christ.
2. Divine Submission: It exemplifies Jesus' perfect obedience to the Father's will, willingly walking the path of suffering to accomplish redemption. He did not need to justify Himself, as His ultimate vindication lay in His resurrection.
3. Refusal to Engage False Accusations: Answering would lend credence to lies and would prolong a trial whose outcome was predetermined by the will of His accusers, not justice. His silence strips away the opportunity for His words to be twisted or for the process to be further derailed by irrelevant debate.
4. Sovereign Dignity: Jesus, the true King and Son of God, stands silent before earthly authorities, demonstrating a quiet, majestic power that transcends their judicial farce. His silence is more eloquent than any defense, condemning His accusers and testifying to His innocent suffering.

His non-reply also intensifies Pilate's perplexity (Matt 27:14), as such a lack of defense was highly unusual in Roman judicial proceedings. It showcased an extraordinary level of control and purpose from one on trial for His life. For believers, Jesus' silent endurance is a powerful example of how to respond to unjust accusations and suffering: not with retaliation or endless self-defense, but with patient trust in God's ultimate justice and plan.