Mark 15 · a question people ask
Why did Jesus make no further answer to Pilate?
Mark doesn't say. He did answer Pilate's first question: "Are you the King of the Jews?" "So you say" (15:2). Then "The chief priests accused him of many things" (15:3), and Pilate asked again, "Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!" (15:4). "But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled" (15:5) (tap marveled). Before the high priest, too, "he stayed quiet, and answered nothing" (14:61), until he was asked, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?", and said, "I am" (14:61-62). Mark gives no reason for the silence. The chapter on Isaiah 53 sets 15:5 beside "he didn’t open his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7) and says the Gospels don't name Isaiah at that point; these notes add nothing to it.
The verses
“Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered, “So you say.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled.”
“But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.””
“He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth.”