John 7:26

“But lo, he speaketh boldly, etc.] And with great freedom, and openly and publicly in the temple, as if he had a licence from the chief priests for so doing: and they say nothing to him; do not contradict him, or forbid him speaking; he goes on without control; though he takes great liberty in charging the Jews with an intention to kill him, in arguing from their practices in vindication of himself, and in suggesting that they judged in favour of men, and not according to the truth of things. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? have they changed their minds concerning him, and so their conduct towards him? are they convinced, and do they know by plain demonstrations, and…”

“Do the rulers know, &c.--Have they got some new light in favor of His claims?”

“Do the rulers know indeed ... - It seems from this that they supposed that the rulers had been convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, but that from some cause they were not willing yet to make it known to the people. The reasons of this opinion were these: They knew that they had attempted to kill him. They now saw him speaking boldly to the people without interruption from the rulers. They concluded, therefore, that some change had taken place in the sentiments of the rulers in regard to him, though they had not yet made it public. The rulers - The members of the Sanhedrin, or great council of the nation, who had charge of religious affairs. Indeed - Truly; certainly. Have they certain…”

“he speaketh: Psa 40:9, Psa 40:10, Psa 71:15, Psa 71:16; Pro 28:1; Isa 42:4, Isa 50:7, Isa 50:8; Mat 22:16; Act 4:13; Eph 6:19, Eph 6:20; Phi 1:14; Ti2 1:7, Ti2 1:8 Do: Joh 7:48, Joh 9:22, Joh 11:47-53, Joh 12:42; Luk 7:30 John 7:27”