John 7:12

12 The crowds were murmuring about him. "He's a good man," some said, but others were saying, "No, he tricks 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 However, after his brothers left for the festival, he went too—not openly but in secret.

11 The Jewish leaders were looking for Jesus at the festival. They kept asking, "Where is he?"

12 The crowds were murmuring about him. "He's a good man," some said, but others were saying, "No, he tricks the people."

13 No one spoke about him publicly, though, for fear of the Jewish authorities.

14 Halfway through the festival, Jesus went up to the temple and started to teach.