But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
The words belong to the account of Jesus being challenged about His authority in the temple. In that setting He acted as Israel's king to give an unbelieving people evidence of His divine mission, even though reforming the corrupt priesthood would be futile. All the people counted John as a prophet indeed, regarding him as a true prophet and being convinced he was truly such. The rulers feared the people's anger and response if they said John's ministry was of men.
They feared losing the people's support and being attacked by them. They therefore would not openly say John's ministry was merely human or deny its divine mission. Their restraint did not mean they accepted his teaching, for privately they chose not to acknowledge it as from heaven. Their answer exposed their fear and indecision.
The words belong to the account of Jesus being challenged about His authority in the temple. In that setting He acted as Israel's king to give an unbelieving people evidence of His divine mission, even though reforming the corrupt priesthood would be futile. All the people counted John as a prophet indeed, regarding him as a true prophet and being convinced he was truly such. The rulers feared the people's anger and response if they said John's ministry was of men.
They feared losing the people's support and being attacked by them. They therefore would not openly say John's ministry was merely human or deny its divine mission. Their restraint did not mean they accepted his teaching, for privately they chose not to acknowledge it as from heaven. Their answer exposed their fear and indecision.