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722. Position of the Accused

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible

By: James M. Freeman

Narrator: Chris Genthree

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Matthew 27:11¹¹And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. (Matthew 27:11). Jesus stood before the governor.

It was the custom for the judge to sit while the accused person stood before him. Thus Paul said to Agrippa: “Now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers” (Acts 26:6⁶And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: (Acts 26:6)). Thus Jesus stood before Pilate, as is stated in the text.

The accuser also stood while giving testimony. See note on Matthew 12:41⁴¹The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (Matthew 12:41) (#661).

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