Mark 11:32

32 But if we say, 'From men'"--they were afraid of the crowd, because they all looked upon John {as truly a prophet}.

Mark 11:32 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 11:32

But if we shall say, of men
That John's baptism was an human invention, and he had no authority from God to preach and administer it,

they feared the people;
lest being enraged thereby they should, at once, rise up, and destroy them:

for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed;
a real prophet, one truly sent from God, and had his commission and credentials from him: this was the general sentiment of the people; (See Gill on Matthew 21:26).

Mark 11:32 In-Context

30 The baptism of John--was [it] from heaven or from men? Answer me!"

31 And they began to discuss [this] with one another, saying, "What should we say? If we say 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

32 But if we say, 'From men'"--they were afraid of the crowd, because they all looked upon John {as truly a prophet}.

33 And they replied to Jesus saying, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these [things]."

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "that he was truly a prophet"