John 7:44

44 But some of them desired to take him, but no one laid hands upon him.

John 7:44 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:44

And some of them would have taken him
Some of the latter sort, who did not believe he was the Messiah; who were the most averse to him, and hot and furious against him; these were for seizing him at once in a violent manner, and for carrying him before the sanhedrim, as an impostor and blasphemer to be examined and tried, and judged by them, to whom it belonged to judge and determine concerning such persons:

but no man laid hands on him;
though they had a good will to it, no man had power to do it; they were held back and restrained by the providence of God; and were diverted from it upon one consideration or another; either fearing the people, or being awed by the majesty of Christ's countenance, or words; the true reason of which was, that which is before given, that his hour was not yet come.

John 7:44 In-Context

42 Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David, and from the village of Bethlehem, where David was?
43 There was a division therefore in the crowd on account of him.
44 But some of them desired to take him, but no one laid hands upon him.
45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, Why have ye not brought him?
46 The officers answered, Never man spoke thus, as this man [speaks].
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.