<p>27:14 <em>And he gave him no answer, not even one word, so much so that the governor was astonished</em>- This is the same response by the judge as at the Lord's earlier trial (26:62,63; see on 27:13 <em>They testify against you</em>). Pilate had presided over many such cases of men being falsely accused. He was astounded at how a man in the face of such blatantly false accusation could be so self-controlled. This, in spiritual terms, was our Lord at one of His most supreme moments. He sets a supreme example to all those falsely accused. Pilate was also staggered at how the Lord had a good human chance of getting off the hook by answering what was blatantly false. But the Lord's mission was to give His life- it was not taken from Him, He gave it. And therefore He made no attempt to get Himself off.</p>