Now indicates that the narrative is moving along to the next episode. In English it is more natural to drop it, but some say “At that time.”

The word stood does not mean that Jesus stood up at that time but rather that he “was standing.”

The account of Jesus’ trial before Pilate (verses 1-2) was interrupted by the narrative of Judas’ death (verses 3-10) but now it is resumed. In order to aid in the transition, Matthew immediately identifies both of the main characters in the drama: Jesus stood before the governor. This is slightly different from Mark’s opening observation, “And Pilate asked him” (15.2), which parallels Matthew’s second remark, and the governor asked him. Mark prefers to identify Pilate by name, though Matthew consistently speaks of him by his military title of governor (verses 11, 14, 15, 21, 27), not reintroducing him by name (see verse 2) until verse 13 (“Then Pilate said to him”). Mark nowhere refers to Pilate by his official title.

For governor see discussion at Matthew 27.2.

Are you the King of the Jews? is framed in precisely the same way in both Mark (15.2) and Luke (23.3). The title King of the Jews is also used of Jesus by the wise men (2.2). It thereby becomes the title by which Jesus is known among the non-Jews.

Both Jesus’ reply, You have said so, and Pilate’s question are the same in all three of the Synoptic Gospels. See also 26.25, 64 for the same response. Jesus’ answer is intentionally evasive, probably because of the political overtones attached to the title in the thinking of Pilate. Jesus is indeed king of the Jews, but in a sense which would not be understood by the Roman governor.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .