John 7:12

There was much murmuring among the people.

Muttering and secret discussion. By the people are meant the multitudes. They must be kept in the mind as distinct from "the Jews." This chapter brings out. vivid picture of Jewish life and of the various elements that composed the nation. We have "the disciples" or personal followers and believers in Christ; "his brethren," who were brothers according to the flesh but were yet unbelievers; "the Jews," officials, or those under official influence, and arrayed in opposition to Christ; "the people," the vast body of the nation who were fined with marvel, were not yet convinced, but were discussing the claims of Jesus; "the Pharisees" (verse 32) here named by John for the first time as opposed to the Lord; "the chief priests," the Sadducean hierarchy who hated him, not for religious reasons like the Pharisees, but because they were sensual, time-serving materiaIists; "the Pharisees and chief priests" (verses 32 and 45), evidently the Sanhedrim; "Nicodemus" (verse 50),. member of the Sanhedrim, but inclined favorably to Christ. The contact with all of these is personal and direct.

He deceiveth the people.

While some insisted that he was. good man, others urged that he was leading the people astray.