Yet here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying anything to Him. Have the rulers truly recognized that this is the Christ?
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?
- KJV But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
- NKJV But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?
- NASB And yet look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they?
- NLT But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They wonder why Jesus speaks openly without being stopped, asking if the rulers truly know He is the Christ. The authorities' silence raises questions about His identity.
Overview
The Jerusalemites are puzzled that Jesus teaches publicly while the leaders, who sought to kill Him, do nothing. They speculate, perhaps half in earnest, that the rulers may secretly acknowledge Him as the Messiah. This unintended testimony reflects the genuine question pressing on the crowd: is this man the promised Christ?
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Tim 1:7–8For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Eph 6:19–20Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- John 7:48“Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?
- Phil 1:14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
- Luke 7:30But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.
- Prov 28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- John 9:22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
- Ps 40:9–10I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
- Matt 22:16They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
- Isa 50:7–8Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.
- Acts 4:13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Isa 42:4He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.”
- John 11:47–53Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
- Ps 71:15–16My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.
- John 12:42Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 7:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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