Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 7:44

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

This, if nothing else, might have been sufficient to cause compunction in them, but they felt it not, as the Prophet saith, "They were cleft asunder, and were not pricked in heart." (Ps. xxxv. 15 LXX.)

Homily on the Gospel of John 51 ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

They who had been sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to take the Lord, made the dissension of the multitude with one another a seasonable pretext for their daring deed. For they imagined that they would with less dispute suffer them to bear Him away, as no longer careful what should befall Him, but that as having been an occasion of fighting and disturbance, they would be altogether glad at His being insulted. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 5 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Those more moderate in malice opposed the glory of Christ only in words, while the more shameless wanted to lay hands on Him as well. However, divine power invisibly restrained them. Yet even this miracle did not strike them. David rightly said of them: "They reproached and did not cease" (Ps. 34:15).

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Some of them attempted to seize Christ; so he says, some of them, that is, those who had said, "Would the Christ come from Galilee?" wanted to apprehend him, to kill him out of hatred: "Pursue and seize him" (Ps 70:11); "The enemy said: 'I will pursue and seize'" (Ex 15:9). On the other hand, those who are good and those who believe want to seize Christ to enjoy him: "I will go up into the palm tree and seize its fruit" (Sg 7:8). But they were frustrated by the power of Christ. …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

"But certain ones from among them," namely the officers, "wished to apprehend him," according, that is, to the command given to them; above in the same chapter: "The Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to apprehend Jesus." "But no one laid hands on him," because God sent his hand; the Psalm: "Send forth your hand from on high"; and thus they were frustrated in their intention. …

Commentary on John, Chapter 7 ↗

Alcuin of York

That is, because He Who had the power to control their designs, did not permit it.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗