The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

4. Then the high Priest devised another device, viz. to draw out Jesus Christ to speak; for he kept silence all this while. Could they draw him out to speak, they might entangle him in his words, which artifice they had formerly used to catch him by. Mat, 22.15. so now again they attempt that way. The high Priest stood up (a good civill deportment in public affairs) and put him upon answering unto what they said; and to sharpen and quicken the matter, he putteth him on in a rebuking way: What? Answerest thou nothing? What is this that these witness against thee? But this Stratagem prevailed not, Jesus still held his peace.

4. Then the high Priest devised another device, viz. to draw out Jesus Christ to speak; for he kept silence all this while. Could they draw him out to speak, they might entangle him in his words, which artifice they had formerly used to catch him by. Mat, 22.15. so now again they attempt that way. The high Priest stood up (a good civill deportment in publick affairs) and put him upon answering unto what they said; and to sharpen and quicken the matter, he putteth him on in a rebuking way: What? Answerest thou nothing? What is this that these witness against thee? But this Stratagem prevailed not, Jesus still held his peace.

Quest. Why did Jesus hold his peace and answer nothing?

Answ. 1. Because there was nothing to answer unto: they proved nothing; their witnesses agreed not, they confuted themselves, they could fix and fasten nothing: there was no need of an answer, and in such case it is best to keep silence.