Pilate was puzzled. An accused man normally defends himself, especially when the charges pile up. Jesus had answered Pilate's first question (Mark 15:2), but He said nothing while the chief priests accused Him (Mark 15:3). Pilate pressed Him to speak and pointed to the weight of the case: "behold how many things they witness against thee." Gill says Jesus "made no defence for himself, which the governor was willing to give him an opportunity to make." Pilate's question, then, was an opening for Jesus to speak in His own defense.

"But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled" (Mark 15:5). The word "yet" shows that the silence continued. Jesus offered no defense against the accusations, and the governor was amazed. Gill describes Pilate wondering "what should be the meaning of his silence, when he was so capable of defending himself, and was so innocent." Matthew adds that He "answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly" (Matthew 27:14).

Pilate's words echo the high priest's question the night before: "Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?" (Mark 14:60). Both times Jesus kept silent before the accusations (Mark 14:61; Mark 15:5). Both times He spoke only to confirm who He is: "I am" before the council (Mark 14:62) and "Thou sayest it" before Pilate (Mark 15:2).

The chief priests were the leading priests of the temple. Mark says they "accused him of many things" (Mark 15:3) without listing the charges. Matthew Henry says Jesus would not answer the witnesses "because the things they alleged were known to be false, even Pilate himself was convinced they were so."

Jesus' silence was not weakness. He had already said what mattered: that He is the Christ and the King (Mark 14:62; Mark 15:2). He would not argue His way out of the cross. Earlier He had told His disciples that the Son of man would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, and killed, and would rise the third day (Mark 10:33-34). His silence fits a Man walking into what He had foretold.

Pilate "marvelled" (Mark 15:5). The silence of Jesus left the powerful governor wondering who this prisoner was. Sometimes what Jesus does not say speaks as loudly as what He does.