=10-13. Not openly, but as it were in secret.= Not _secretly_, but _as if_ in secret, that is, quietly, unostentatiously, _incognito_, in contrast to the way in which his brothers wished him to go up. “Not in the company of a caravan of pilgrims or in any other way of outward observation, but so that the journey to that feast is represented as made in secrecy, and consequently quite differently from his last entry at the feast of the Passover.”--(_Meyer._) The description of this journey to Jerusalem renders it improbable that it is to be identified with the journey described in Luke 9:51, 52. See Prel. Note.--=Then the Jews sought him.= By the _Jews_ John generally if not invariably means the inhabitants of Judea, in contradistinction to the other inhabitants of the Holy Land. See ch. 6:41, note.--=Where is that fellow= (ἐκεῖνος)? The language is derisive. “Thus contemptuously can they speak of the man, that they cannot name him.”--(_Luther._)--=And there was much murmuring.= The original (γογγυσμός) implies suppressed discourse.--=Some indeed said.= The Greek particle which I have rendered _indeed_ (μέν) implies a concession, at the same time pointing forward to something antithetic. The implication is that among the Judeans the believers were a minority.--=No! but he deceiveth the people.= He that is popular with the multitude is generally looked upon with aversion by the hierarchy.--=No one spoke openly.= “Both mistrusted the hierarchy; even those hostile in their judgment were afraid, so long as they had not given their official decision, that their verdict might be reversed. A true indication of an utterly Jesuitical domination of the people.”--(_Meyer._) Hostility to Christianity fears nothing so much as free discussion; and it quite accords with human nature that the consideration of Christ’s claims by the people at all should be dreaded by the priesthood. The interpretation of Alford, Godet, Tholuck, and others, that only the friends of Christ feared to speak openly, is in direct conflict with the explicit language of the narrative. Maurice pictures the scene well: “It is a hum of voices. There is a fear of something, the people do not well know of what. It is a fear of the Jews; the apostle says each fears the other. There is a concentrated Jewish feeling in the Sanhedrim, among the rulers, which all tremble at. Till that has been pronounced--above all, while there is a suspicion that it will come forth in condemnation--it is not wise for any to commit themselves. Brethren, do we not know that this is a true story? Must it not have happened in Jerusalem then, for would it not happen in London now?” 14 Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15 And[266] the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? [266] Matt. 13:54.