Then the High Priest stood up in the middle and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it that they testify against You?”
The High Priest is trying to force Jesus to answer, because the witnesses’ words were not sufficient for a condemnation. Christ’s silence was a holy and exalted silence. He did not need to answer obvious falsehoods, because the trial was not just and their hearts were closed before the truth. This silence shows not His weakness, but holy obedience to the Father’s will. He could have defended Himself and silenced His accusers, but He was willingly going on the path of sacrifice. In this way the prophetic image was being fulfilled: as a lamb is silent before the one who slaughters it, so He did not open His mouth (Isaiah 53:7).