Or, “kept on being silent.” He persistently refused to speak. This characteristic had been the subject of prophecy for more than seven centuries (Isa. 53:7).

 Caiaphas demanded that Jesus reply under oath to the question now put to Him. In spite of the testimony of all the false witnesses, the Sanhedrin still had no case against Jesus. Caiaphas hoped to make Jesus incriminate Himself. This, too, was illegal. A man could not be condemned on His own testimony (see Additional Notes at end of chapter, Note 2; see on v. 59).

Caiaphas pretended to arraign Christ before the bar of God.

 That is, the Messiah (see on ch. 1:1). Jesus had avoided making the direct claim to being the Messiah, or Christ, perhaps in part because in popular fancy Messiah was to lead the Jews in an armed revolt against Rome. Jesus forbade His disciples to make the claim for Him (ch. 16:20). This was not the first time the question had been put to Jesus (see John 10:24).

 See on Luke 1:35. Jesus commonly referred to Himself as the “Son of man” (see on Matt. 1:1; Mark 2:10). The expression “Son of the Blessed” (Mark 14:61) is a circumlocution commonly used to avoid uttering the divine name. See Additional Note John 1.