John 12:20

"The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”"

Key Reflection

This passage reveals the contrasting reactions of the religious leaders and the common people to Jesus. While the Pharisees view Jesus' influence with suspicion and frustration, seeing his growing popularity as a threat to their own power, the broader population is drawn to him, recognizing in him something genuine and transformative that they have not found among the elite.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. Certain Greeks. In the original, "some Hellenists"-- the name commonly given to the Greeks. The same name was commonly used by the Jews to denote all the pagan nations, because most of those whom they knew spoke the Greek language, Joh 7:34; Ro 1:16; 2:9,10; 3:9 "Jews and Greeks." The Syriac translates this place, "Some of the Gentiles." There are three opinions in regard to these persons: 1st. That they were Jews who spoke the Greek language, and dwelt in some of the Greek cities. It is known that Jews were scattered in Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia, Egypt, &c., in all which places they had synagogues. See Barnes "Joh 7:35". 2nd. That they were proselytes from the Greeks. 3rd.

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