Giovanni 5:15

The man departed, and told the Jews. — We are not told what reason underlay his report to the Jews. It is natural that he should give the answer which he could not give before (Giovanni 5:13), and that he should wish to secure himself from the charge of Sabbath-breaking by supplying his authority. The narrative does not suggest that he did this in a tone of defiance, which has been found here from a remembrance of Giovanni 9, still less that he used his new strength immediately to bring a charge against the Giver of it.

The impression is rather, that he felt that this power came from a prophet sent by God, and that he told this to those who were God’s representatives to the nation, supposing that they would recognise Him too.