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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 10:24 - 10:24
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Came round about him (ekuklōsan auton). Aorist active indicative of kukloō, old verb from kuklos (cycle, circle). See Act 14:20 for the circle of disciples around Paul when stoned. Evidently the hostile Jews cherished the memory of the stinging rebuke given them by Jesus when here last, particularly the allegory of the Good Shepherd (10:1-19), in which he drew so sharply their own picture.
How long dost thou hold us in suspense? (heōs pote tēn psuchēn hēmōn aireis). Literally, “Until when dost thou lift up our soul?” But what do they mean by this metaphor? Airō is common enough to lift up the eyes (Joh 11:41), the voice (Luk 17:13), and in Psa 25:1; Psa 86:4 (Josephus, Ant. III. ii. 3) we have “to lift up the soul.” We are left to the context to judge the precise meaning. Clearly the Jews mean to imply doubt and suspense. The next remark makes it clear.
If thou art the Christ (ei su ei ho Christos). Condition of first class assumed to be true for the sake of argument.
Tell us plainly (eipon hēmin parrēsiāi). Conclusion with eipon rather than the usual eipe as if first aorist active imperative like luson. The point is in “plainly” (parrēsiāi), adverb as in Joh 7:13, Joh 7:26 which see. That is to say “I am the Christ” in so many words. See Joh 11:14; Joh 16:29 for the same use of parrēsiāi. The demand seemed fair enough on the surface. They had made it before when here at the feast of tabernacles (Joh 8:25). Jesus declined to use the word Christos (Messiah) then as now because of the political bearing of the word in their minds. The populace in Galilee had once tried to make him king in opposition to Pilate (Joh 6:14.). When Jesus does confess on oath before Caiaphas that he is the Christ the Son of God (Mar 14:61.; Mat 26:63.), the Sanhedrin instantly vote him guilty of blasphemy and then bring him to Pilate with the charge of claiming to be king as a rival to Caesar. Jesus knew their minds too well to be caught now.