John 7:12

12 Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”

John 7:12 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:12

And there was much murmuring among the people concerning
him
There was a general whisper, and a private controversy and contention among the people about him, upon inquiry being made after him:

for some said he is a good man;
a man of a good principle, of a good life and conversation; and who is good, kind, and beneficent, both to the bodies and souls of men; preaches good doctrine, and does many good things:

others said: nay,
or denied him to be a good man:

but he deceiveth the people;
drawing them off from the law of Moses, teaching them to break the sabbath, setting himself up for the Messiah, and asserting himself to be the son of God.

John 7:12 In-Context

10 But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went—not publicly, but in secret.

11 So the Jews were looking for Him at the feast and asking, “Where is He?”

12 Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”

13 Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.

14 About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.