Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
Parallel translations
- WEB When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.
- KJV But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
- NKJV But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
- NASB And although they sought to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, since they considered Him to be a prophet.
- NLT They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.
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 want to arrest Jesus but fear the crowd who regard Him as a prophet. Fear of the people, not conscience, restrains them for now.
Overview
The leaders' desire to seize Jesus is checked only by the popular esteem in which He is held. Their restraint is purely pragmatic, not repentant, echoing their earlier calculation over John the Baptist. This tension between their murderous intent and the crowd's regard builds toward the climactic events of the passion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 21:11The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
- Matt 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
- 2 Sam 12:7–13Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
- John 7:7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
- Luke 7:16A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”
- Isa 29:1Woe to you, O Ariel, the city of Ariel where David camped! Year upon year let your festivals recur.
- John 7:40–41On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.”
- Prov 9:7–9He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
- Acts 2:22Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
- Luke 7:39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
- Prov 15:12A mocker does not love to be reproved, nor will he consult the wise.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 21:46 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.