John 9:18

18 and he said -- `He is a prophet.' The Jews, therefore, did not believe concerning him that he was blind and did receive sight, till that they called the parents of him who received sight,

John 9:18 Meaning and Commentary

John 9:18

But the Jews did not believe concerning him
Not Jesus, but the blind man;

that he had been blind, and received his sight;
they imagine there was a fraud in the case, that it was collusion between Jesus and this man; that he was a man who had never been blind, but only had given out that he was, and pretended he had now received his sight from Jesus, on purpose to spread his fame, and induce people to believe he was the Messiah; and in this imagination they endeavoured to strengthen themselves and others:

until they called the parents of him that had received his sight;
they sent messengers to them, and summoned them before them, that they might examine them about this matter, hoping, they might get something out of them, which might detect the supposed fraud, and bring Jesus under disgrace.

John 9:18 In-Context

16 Of the Pharisees, therefore, certain said, `This man is not from God, because the sabbath he doth not keep;' others said, `How is a man -- a sinful one -- able to do such signs?' and there was a division among them.

17 They said to the blind man again, `Thou -- what dost thou say of him -- that he opened thine eyes?'

18 and he said -- `He is a prophet.' The Jews, therefore, did not believe concerning him that he was blind and did receive sight, till that they called the parents of him who received sight,

19 and they asked them, saying, `Is your son, of whom ye say that he was born blind? how then now doth he see?'

20 His parents answered them and said, `We have known that this is our son, and that he was born blind;