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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 7:26 - 7:26
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
They say nothing unto him (ouden autoi legousin). But only make sneering comments about him (Joh 7:16) in spite of his speaking “openly” (parrēsiāi, for which word see Joh 7:13; Joh 18:20) before all. It was sarcasm about the leaders, though an element of surprise on the part of “these shrewd townsmen” (Bernard) may have existed also.
Can it be that the rulers indeed know (mē pote alēthōs egnōsin hoi archontes). Negative answer expected by mē pote and yet there is ridicule of the rulers in the form of the question. See a like use of mē pote in Luk 3:15, though nowhere else in John. Egnōsan (second aorist ingressive active indicative of ginōskō) may refer to the examination of Jesus by these rulers in Joh 5:19. and means, “Did they come to know or find out” (and so hold now)?
That this is the Christ (hoti houtos estin ho Christos). The Messiah of Jewish hope.