ἦλθ. οὖν οἱ ὑπ. Therefore came the officers, i.e. because neither they nor any of the multitude had ventured to arrest Him. Under the control of God’s providence (John 7:30), they had been unable to find any good opportunity for taking Him, and had been overawed by the majesty of His words (John 7:46). The influence which Christ exercised over His enemies shews again and again that they had no power over Him until He and His Father willed to allow it; comp. John 13:27; John 18:6; John 19:11. It would seem as if the Sanhedrin had continued sitting, waiting for the return of its officers; an extraordinary proceeding on so great a day (see on John 7:37), shewing the intensity of their hostility. Their question is quite in harmony with this. See on John 7:32. The omission of τούς before Φαρ. shews that the chief priests and Pharisees are now regarded as one body.

ἐκεῖνοι. The pronoun marks the Evangelist’s aversion: comp. John 10:6.

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Old Testament