John 7:44

And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(44) And some of them would have taken him—i.e., those who asked “Doth the Christ, then, come out of Galilee?” (John 7:41.) The officers of the Sanhedrin were present all this time (John 7:32), and are immediately mentioned as distinct from the “some” of this verse.

No man laid hands on him.—Comp. John 7:30. The reason is not here repeated. The fact is in part explained by the existence of a section who received Him as the Prophet and as the Christ, and in part by the power of His presence and words which impressed even the officers sent to take Him. (Comp. John 18:6.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 2:4-6.

Where David was - 1 Samuel 16:1-4.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

44-49. would have taken him; but, &c.—(See on [1803]Joh 7:30).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

There were some that had an ill opinion of Christ, and put on the officers that came for the purpose to apprehend him; but there was none so hardy as to do it.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And some of them would have taken him,.... Some of the latter sort, who did not believe he was the Messiah; who were the most averse to him, and hot and furious against him; these were for seizing him at once in a violent manner, and for carrying him before the sanhedrim, as an impostor and blasphemer to be examined and tried, and judged by them, to whom it belonged to judge and determine concerning such persons:

but no man laid hands on him; though they had a good will to it, no man had power to do it; they were held back and restrained by the providence of God; and were diverted from it upon one consideration or another; either fearing the people, or being awed by the majesty of Christ's countenance, or words; the true reason of which was, that which is before given, that his hour was not yet come.

Geneva Study Bible

And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

John 7:44. Ἐξ αὐτῶν] Those, of course, who adopted the opinion last named. The contest had aroused them. Τινές, standing first and apart, has a special emphasis. “Some there were among the people, who were disposed,” etc.

ἀλλʼ οὐδεὶς, κ.τ.λ.] according to John 7:30, through divine prevention (ἐπεχόμενος ἀοράτως, Euthymius Zigabenus). On ἐπιβάλλ. τ. χεῖρ., see on Acts 12:1.

According to De Wette (see also Luthardt), the meaning is said to be that they would have supported the timid officers, or would have acted for them. A gloss; according to John, they were inclined to an Acts of popular justice, independently of the officers, but it was not carried into effect.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

44. some of them] Some of the multitude, provoked by the controversy, would on their own responsibility have carried Him before the Sanhedrin. These ‘some’ are not the officers mentioned in the next verse.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 44. - And some of them; i.e. of those who refused to accord him Messianic reception because he had not commenced his ministry at Bethlehem, and had not flaunted his Davidic ancestry. Some of the multitude were ready on their own account to act, or at least to aid or abet the baffled officers of state in their task: would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. The same mysterious power, the same conflicting fear of the result among the enthusiastic crowd then waving their palm branches and shouting "the great Hosanna," nay, the all-wise providence of God, restrained them yet again. "His hour was not yet come." John 7:44

Vincent's Word Studies

Would have taken (ἤθελον πιάσαι)

See on John 7:17. Rather, were disposed: or wished to take him.