Bible Strands
Luke 20:6
But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The religious leaders deliberating in Luke 20:5-7 weigh how to answer Jesus about John the Baptist’s authority. They fear the crowd will stone them if they admit John’s commission was merely human.
The words — The phrase ἐξ ἀνθρώπων (ex anthrōpōn) translates literally as “from men,” contrasting divine origin with human agency. The text notes ὁ λαὸς ἅπας (ho laos hapas) as “all the people,” emphasizing their unified conviction.
The thread — This dilemma mirrors the leaders’ reasoning in Matthew 21:26 regarding public fear. The crowd’s regard for John as a prophet also appears in Matthew 14:5 and Matthew 11:9.
Why it lands — The verse demands a reader confront how fear of human opinion overrides truth. It requires acknowledging that public pressure can dictate silence even when the truth is known.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
Cross-references
- Matthew 21:26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
- Matthew 11:9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
- Matthew 14:5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
- Matthew 21:46 Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
- Matthew 26:5 “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
- Mark 12:12 At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.
- Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
- Luke 7:26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
- John 10:41 Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”
- Acts 5:26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.