John 7:11-13

“ The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, where is He? 12. And there was much murmuring concerning him among the multitudes.Some said, He is a good man. Others said, No, but he leads the multitude astray. However, no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews. ”

This narrative justifies the circumspect action of Jesus. This popular agitation proves the immense sensation which had been produced by His appearance and the impression which His last sojourn in Jerusalem had left (chap. 5). We find again in this representation, John 7:11-13, the contrast which appears continually in our Gospel between those whom the light attracts and those whom it repels. The term γογγυσμός, murmuring, denotes the rumors in both senses, friendly and hostile. The ὄχλοι are the groups of pilgrims. ῎Αγαθός, good man, signifies here an upright man, in contrast with an impostor (“He leads the people astray”). Τὸν ὅχλον, the multitude (John 7:12), designates the common people who allowed themselves to be easily deluded by every demagogue. The words: No one spoke openly, must not be referred to those only who, though well disposed, did not dare to manifest aloud their sympathy. The rest also, those who said: “He is an impostor,” did not speak freely, in the sense that through servility they went in their expressions beyond what they really thought. Weiss thinks, on the contrary, that they would have said yet more that was evil of Him, if they had not feared the change on the part of the leaders to a more favorable judgment. This explanation seems to me scarcely natural. However it may be, a pressure coming from above was exerted upon all, upon those who were well-disposed towards Jesus, as upon those who were ill-disposed.