Matthew 27:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so."

NIV: Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "You have said so," Jesus replied.

NASB: Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, 'So You are the King of the Jews?' And Jesus said to him, 'It is as you say.'

CSB: Now Jesus stood before the governor. "Are you the King of the Jews?" the governor asked him. Jesus answered, "You say so."

NLT: Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. 'Are you the king of the Jews?' the governor asked him. Jesus replied, 'You have said it.'

KJV: And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

NKJV: Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “ It is as you say.”

After describing the end of Judas' tragic story (Matthew 27:3–10), Matthew returns to Jesus. He is standing before the Roman governor Pilate. Early in the morning, some of the chief priests brought Jesus, bound, to Pilate's headquarters in Jerusalem. They will not enter, so Pilate comes out to see what they want. He asks what accusation they have against Jesus and why they don't judge Him according to their own Jewish law. They respond that Roman law will not allow them to put Jesus to death (John 18:28–32).

They tell Pilate, falsely, that Jesus has been misleading the Israelites and forbidding them from paying taxes to Caesar. They add that Jesus has been proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a king (Luke 23:2). The religious leaders are trying to come up with accusations that will convince Pilate that Jesus is a danger to Rome. One example is the issue of paying taxes. Jesus had famously replied to a trick question by saying the people should give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, referring specifically to money (Matthew 22:15–22).

Jesus' enemies are closer to the truth in saying that He claims to be a king. He has stated that He is the Messiah. Jesus, though, has no interest in taking the throne of Israel or overthrowing the Romans. Matthew picks up the story as Pilate turns to Jesus and asks about this issue. Jesus gives the same answer He gave to the high priest: the equivalent of "you are the one who said it." His answer clearly means yes, though there's more to be said than what Jesus offers. John notes that Jesus' answer made it clear He was not seeking a political overthrow of Rome (John 18:36).

Paul referred to this as a significant moment of revelation. He called this Jesus' "good confession" before Pilate (1 Timothy 6:13), a moment Jesus revealed His identity to the Gentiles.

Matthew 27:11–26 describes Jesus' trial before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. The Jewish religious leaders are asking Pilate to condemn Jesus to death, hurling accusations. Pilate is amazed that Jesus remains silent, barely saying anything in His own defense. Pilate offers the Passover crowds the choice between releasing Jesus or releasing Barabbas. They choose Barabbas and call for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate recognizes the obvious feud driving this persecution; he is more concerned with civil order than with justice. He agrees to execute Jesus while claiming no responsibility for the decision. Further details are found in Mark 15:1–15, Luke 23:1–25, and John 18:28—19:16.

When Judas learns Jesus has been condemned, he regrets betraying the Lord. He throws down his ill-gotten money and hangs himself. Jesus is taken to Pilate, who finds nothing to charge Him with. Given the choice, the people shout for the release of a convicted murderer and insist on Jesus' death. Jesus is mocked by a battalion of soldiers and then taken to be crucified. On the cross, He is mocked for not being able to save Himself. After three hours of darkness, Jesus dies. He is buried by a rich follower in a new tomb. This location is tightly guarded to prevent anyone from stealing the body.

Matthew 27 begins with an official meeting of the Jewish ruling council. They affirm Jesus' condemnation from the previous night, described in chapter 26. Judas confesses his betrayal and hangs himself. Pilate tries to release Jesus, but the mob shouts for Jesus to be crucified. Jesus is humiliated by Roman soldiers and marched to be executed. On the cross, He is mocked by Jewish religious leaders and others. He dies and is buried in a never-used tomb. Extensive efforts to secure His body from being stolen only serve to prove the miraculous nature of His resurrection, which is detailed in chapter 28.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.