40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”(A)

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?(B) 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants(C) and from Bethlehem,(D) the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided(E) because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.(F)

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Division and Unbelief

40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.”[a] 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”[b] 43 So the crowd was divided about him. 44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.

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Footnotes

  1. 7:40 See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6.
  2. 7:42 See Mic 5:2.