one of the principal inquiries made by the Jews of one another. Our Lord, on a former occasion, had not come up to the pass- over. (See John vi.) They might, therefore, naturally feel doubtful whether He would come now.
It is noteworthy that the question admits of being taken as one, or divided into two distinct ones.
Some think that it means, " What think ye of the question, whether He will come to the feast or not?"
Others hold that it means, " What think ye of Christ, and especially of His position at this time? Do you think that He will not come to the feast? " I myself prefer this view.
It is noteworthy that the very question with which our Lord confounded the Pharisees a few days after, as recorded in St. Matthew xxii. 42, begins with precisely the same Greek words as those here used, " What think ye of Christ? "
57. — [Nbio both. ..priests. ..Pharisees, etc., etc.] This verse shows the first steps which had been taken after the session of the council which adopted the advice of Caiaphas to kill Jesus. A general order had been given that if any man knew where Jesus lodged in Jerusalem, he was to give information, in order that He might be apprehended.
I cannot help thinking myself that this order must only have referred to Jerusalem, and the house where our Lord might lodge when He came to the passover, if He did come. I cannot suppose that our Lord's enemies could be ignorant where He was between the miracle of Bethany and the passover. But I fancy they dared not run the risk of a tumult or rebellion, which might be caused if they sent into the rural districts to appre- hend Him. Indeed, it is doubtful whether the jurisdiction of the priests and Pharisees extended beyond the walls of Jerusa- lem, and whether they could lay hands upon our Lord anywhere outside the city. This might have been the reason why He often lodged at Bethany.
Musculus here discusses the question, whether obedience to the powers that be obliges us to give up a man to those who are seeking to apprehend him. He answers, "Decidedly not; if we believe him to be an innocent man."