And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

MARK 15:4KJV
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Mark 15:4 (KJV)

What does Mark 15:4 mean?

Mark 15:4 shows Pilate questioning Jesus again, surprised that Jesus is not responding to the many accusations made against him. Pilate points out how many charges are being brought, urging Jesus to say something in his own defense.

In this scene, Pilate, the Roman governor, is speaking directly to Jesus during his trial. The religious leaders have accused Jesus of many things, but Jesus remains silent. Pilate’s question highlights both the seriousness of the accusations and his own confusion or concern at Jesus’ refusal to answer, which was unusual in a Roman trial setting.

The Greek behind Mark 15:4

  • ἀποκρίνῃ οὐδέν (apokrinei ouden, "answerest thou nothing"): The Greek here uses a strong negative, emphasizing that Jesus is giving absolutely no reply at all. This silence would have stood out in a legal context where self-defense was expected.
  • ἴδε (ide, "behold"): This word is often used to draw attention or express surprise. Pilate is not just stating a fact but urging Jesus to notice or consider the seriousness of the situation.
  • πόσα (posa, "how many things"): The Greek word for "how many" underlines the large number of accusations, adding weight to Pilate’s question and showing the pressure Jesus was under.

Why Mark 15:4 matters

  • Mark 15:4 helps readers see how unusual Jesus’ silence was during his trial, especially from the perspective of a Roman official like Pilate.
  • The verse highlights the tension and drama of the trial, showing Pilate’s discomfort and the mounting accusations from the religious leaders.
  • This moment connects to the larger theme of Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy, as his silence echoes descriptions of the suffering servant in Isaiah, though Mark does not state this directly.

Where else these words appear

“witness” Greek G2649 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 26:62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
  • Matthew 27:13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
  • Mark 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

“behold” Greek G2396 · used in 26 verses

  • Matthew 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
  • Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
  • John 11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

“things” Greek G4214 · used in 27 verses

  • Matthew 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
  • Mark 6:38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
  • Luke 16:5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

“Pilate” Greek G4091 · used in 53 verses

  • Matthew 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
  • Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
  • John 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.