Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
All Commentaries on John 7:40 Go To John 7
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Our Lord having invited those, who believed in Him, to drink of the Holy Spirit, adissension arose among the multitude: Many of the people therefore, when they heart these saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
They; however who were sent to take Him, returned guiltless of the offense, and full of admiration: Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to the m, Why have you not brought Him? .
He spoke thus, because He was both God and man.
The Pharisees however rejected their testimony: Then answered them the Pharisees, Are you also led away? As if to say, We see that you are charmed by His discourse.
They who knew not the law, believed on Him who had given the law, and they who taught the law condemned Him; thus fulfilling our Lord’s words, I am come, that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind.
He was not unbelieving, but fearful; and therefore came by night to the light, wishing to be enlightened, but afraid of being known to go. He replies, Does our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what hedoes? He thought that, if they would only hear Him patiently, they would be overcome, as the officers had been. But they preferred obstinately condemning Him, to knowing the truth.
He calls the law of God, our law; because it was given to men.
i.e. led away by a Galilean. Our Lord was called a Galilean, because His parents were of the town of Nazareth; I mean by parents, Mary.
No prophet indeed arises out of; Galilee, but the Lord of prophets arose thence.
