ACC ~ John 7 v30

THE INVISIBLE CHECK ON THEIR FURY

CHRYSOSTOM: His saying, however, “Whom you know not,” irritated the Jews, who professed to have knowledge. “And they sought to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.” Mark the invisible check that is kept on their fury, though the Evangelist does not mention it but preserves purposely a humble and human way of speaking in order to impress us with Christ’s humanity. Therefore, he only adds, “Because his hour was not yet come.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 50.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:181**.

JESUS’ ARREST IS PREVENTED BY DIVINE POWER

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: They wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him—as if they were prevented by divine power—because the time had not come yet in which his passion had to be accomplished. From this it appears that he could not be arrested by them if he did not want to be. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 3.7.30-31. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:160.

JESUS IN CONTROL OF HIS OWN TIME OF DEATH

AUGUSTINE: [They did not lay hands on him] because he did not want them to…. For our Lord was not born subject to fate. You must not believe this even of yourself, much less of him by whom you were made. And if your hour is in his will, is not his hour in his own will? His hour then here does not mean the time that he was obliged to die, but the time that he decided to be put to death. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 31.5. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:190*.

Jn