He made no answer

[goldent]

In the gospel (passion) today, when Pilate questioned Jesus, it was said that Jesus "made no answer." It was said this surprised Pilate. I suppose Pilate would have expected Jesus to defend himself, especially given that Pilate himself believed Jesus was innocent. I think similar things are said in the other gospels.

I think the conventional thinking is that Jesus was simply waiting for his fate, but I'm wondering if there another message in his silence. It also seems like there have been other well known cases where someone unjustly accused decides to remain silent, but in some Googling, couldn't find any.

[okasha]

1. There have been cases in which the accused

has remained silent or refused to enter a plea as a protest against an unjust system.

[el_bryanto]

2. I think part of it is that he was aware of how Pilate was being used

In a way Pilate was irrelevant to the larger story.

Bryant

[rug]

3. Both Pontius Pilate and his wife are saints in the Ethiopian Church.

Their feast day is June 19.

https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/saint-pontius-pilate

[goldent]

5. It's a very interesting article

The story of Pilate makes me think about politicians who in their conscious might want to vote one way, but their constituency and their party makes then vote the other way. Pilate clearly wanted to release Jesus, nearly pleading with Jesus to defend himself. But in the end, he relented to the crowd.

[hrmjustin]

4. this is a great question and I just don't know.

It could have been a protest but I think he knew what was coming.