John 7:44

44 Some of them wanted at once to arrest 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 declared that the Christ is to come of the family of David and from Bethlehem, David's village?"

43 So there was a violent dissension among the people on His account.

44 Some of them wanted at once to arrest Him, but no one laid hands upon Him.

45 Meanwhile the officers returned to the High Priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why have you not brought him?"

46 "No mere man has ever spoken as this man speaks," said the officers.