Matthew Poole and continuators on John 10:24

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long doest thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ tell us plainly .

Our Saviour was at this time within three months of his Crucifying; he had often before told them that he was the light of the world, the true Shepherd, he had Preached Doctrine to them, from whence they might easily have concluded what he was; he had wrought works among them which none could do but by a Divine Power; but he had been very wary of telling them in plain terms that he was the Messiah, the Christ; when at any time he had so declared himself to his Disciples, or they had owned him as such, he s[illegible: 1 letter]ill laid a charge upon them, to tell no man of it, Matth. 16.20, &c. They therefore come to him, demanding a plain resolution in the case; some of their minds were in some suspence about it. It was but a captious question, for had he denied it, besides that, it had been the denial of a truth which he came to bear a testimony unto; they had had a great advantage to have lessened his reputation amongst those who had believed on him as such. Had he affirmed it, he had brought himself in danger of the Roman Governor, for the Iews indeed expected a Messiah, a Christ, but to be a [illegible: 3 letters] poral Prince, to deliver them from their Enemies; and [illegible: 1 letter]or him to have declared himself such a Christ, as they expected, had been fatal to them. He therefore answers with his usual prudence and wariness to this question.

Marginal references: Or hold us is su[illegible: 1 letter]pence.