Matthew 27:11

Jesus stood. Matthew resumes the narrative begun in v. 2 (see comment there), having interrupted it for the account of what Judas did at the close of the day trial before the Sanhedrin (see on v. 3). The members of the Sanhedrin refused to enter the judgment hall lest they should be defiled and unable to eat the Passover (John 18:28).

Governor. See on v. 2.

Art thou? The word translated “thou” is in the emphatic position, implying that Pilate was unable to believe that a person like Jesus could be a wild revolutionary, as the Jews had implied in their charges against Him (Luke 23:2, 5, 14). Luke (ch. 23:2) records the threefold charge Caiaphas preferred against Jesus: seditious agitation, forbidding the payment of taxes, and pretension to a kingly throne. Only John (ch. 18:28–38) gives a more or less extended account of the first trial before Pilate, and the background for the question here abruptly stated by the synoptic writers.

Thou sayest. Equivalent to “Yes” (see on ch. 26:64). Throughout His trial, whether before the Jews or before Pilate and Herod, the only questions to which Jesus replied were those that involved His Messiahship. He claimed to be both the Son of God and the King of the Jews (Matt. 26:63, 64; John 18:33–36). The first claim was considered blasphemy by the Jews and the second an act of treason by the Romans.