John 17:8

ὅτι τὰ ῥήματα … ἀπέστειλας. The result achieved, John 17:7, was due to the fidelity of the messenger, τὰ ῥήματα … δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, and to the receptiveness of those prepared by God, αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον, etc. cf. John 16:30. ἐγὼ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐρωτῶ. He desires solemnly to commit to the Father's keeping those who have believed. He prays for them in distinction from the world, and for the present sets the world aside, οὐ περὶ τοῦ κόσμου. The petitions now presented are only applicable to disciples, not to the world. Melanchthon says: “vide horrendum judicium Christi de mundo, cum negat se orare pro mundo, damnatque quicquid est mundi, quantumvis speciosum”. But Luther more justly says: “To pray for the world, and not to pray for the world, must both be right and good. For soon after He says Himself: ‘Neither pray I for those alone, but for them also who shall believe on me'.” He prayed too for His crucifiers, Luke 23:34. His reason for praying for those who have received Him is ὅτι σοί εἰσι, “because they are Thine”. God's interest in them and work upon them have already been manifested, and are the promise of His further operation.