40 Many, therefore out of the multitude, having heard the word, said, 'This is truly the Prophet;' 41 others said, 'This is the Christ;' and others said, 'Why, out of Galilee doth the Christ come? 42 Did not the Writing say, that out of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem—the village where David was—the Christ doth come?' 43 A division, therefore, arose among the multitude because of him. 44 And certain of them were willing to seize him, but no one laid hands on him;
45 the officers came, therefore, unto the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, 'Wherefore did ye not bring him?' 46 The officers answered, 'Never so spake man—as this man.' 47 The Pharisees, therefore, answered them, 'Have ye also been led astray? 48 did any one out of the rulers believe in him? or out of the Pharisees? 49 but this multitude, that is not knowing the law, is accursed.' 50 Nicodemus saith unto them—he who came by night unto him—being one of them, 51 'Doth our law judge the man, if it may not hear from him first, and know what he doth?' 52 They answered and said to him, 'Art thou also out of Galilee? search and see, that a prophet out of Galilee hath not risen;'
53 and each one went on to his house, but Jesus went on to the mount of the Olives.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 7:40-53
Commentary on John 7:40-53
(Read John 7:40-53)
The malice of Christ's enemies is always against reason, and sometimes the staying of it cannot be accounted for. Never any man spake with that wisdom, and power, and grace, that convincing clearness, and that sweetness, wherewith Christ spake. Alas, that many, who are for a time restrained, and who speak highly of the word of Jesus, speedily lose their convictions, and go on in their sins! People are foolishly swayed by outward motives in matters of eternal moment, are willing even to be damned for fashion's sake. As the wisdom of God often chooses things which men despise, so the folly of men commonly despises those whom God has chosen. The Lord brings forward his weak and timid disciples, and sometimes uses them to defeat the designs of his enemies.