Albert Barnes Commentary John 19:9

"and he entered into the Praetorium again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer." — John 19:9 (ASV)

Whence art thou? (See Barnes on John 7:27).

Pilate knew that he was a Galilean, but this question was asked to ascertain whether he claimed to be the Son of God—whether a mere man, or whether divine.

Jesus gave him no answer. Probably for the following reasons:

1. He had already told him his design, and the nature of his kingdom (John 18:36–37).
2. He had said enough to satisfy him of his innocence. Pilate was convinced of that. His duty was clear, and if he had possessed the firmness to do it, he would not have asked this. Jesus, by his silence, therefore rebuked him for his lack of firmness and his unwillingness to do what his conscience told him was right.
3. It is not probable that Pilate would have understood him if he had declared to him the truth about his origin and about his being the Son of God.
4. After what had been done—after he had satisfied Pilate of his innocence, and then had been beaten and mocked by his permission—he had no reason to expect justice at his hands and therefore properly declined to make any further defense. By this, the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7 was remarkably fulfilled.