18 But the Jews did not believe[366] concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. [366] Isa. 26:11. 19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. =17-21. What sayest thou of him because he hath opened thine eyes?= They ask for the man’s opinion, each party perhaps hoping to get support for its own views.--=He is a prophet.= At first to the blind man Christ was only “a man that is called Jesus” (ver. 11). The discussion has not only deepened, it has clarified his convictions.--=But the Jews did not believe * * * * until they had called the parents.= The Pharisees make a twofold endeavor to break the force of the miracle, first by questioning the identity of the man, second by questioning the method of his cure.--So they ask the parents if this is their son, and how he was cured.--=His parents answered them=, etc. The answer of the parents was probably literally true, but it was evasive.--Their knowledge of the cure was probably derived from their son; hence they justify themselves in referring the inquirers to him. But duty, both to truth and to their son, required that they should have sustained his testimony by their own expressed belief in the miraculous cure. 22 These _words_ spake his parents, because they[367] feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he[368] should be put out of the synagogue. [367] chaps. 7:13; 12:42; Prov. 29:25. [368] verse 34; ch. 16:2. 23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.