Jesus replied to them, “Even if I do give testimony about myself, it is [still] true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going.
But I obtained help from God and so [I am able to] stand here to this day, testifying to both the common people and to those in prominence. [I am] saying only what the prophets and Moses said would happen,
The people had listened to Paul speaking up to this point [i.e., until he said the word “Gentiles”], then they raised their voices and shouted, “Do away with such a person from the earth; it is not right for him to live.”
But the Hebrews refused [to acknowledge Moses as their leader], saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge [over us]?’ [Nevertheless], God sent him [to Egypt] to be both a ruler and liberator [of the people] through the direction of [His] angel who appeared [to Moses] from the bush.
So, they called the [former] blind man a second time, and said to him, “Give honor to God [Note: In Jewish idiom this phrase meant “tell the truth.” See Josh. 7:19]; we know this man is a sinner.”
Some of the Pharisees then said, “The man who did this is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath day.” But other people said, “How could a man who is a sinner do such [miraculous] signs?” And the people were divided among themselves [over the issue].
They began bringing accusations against Him, saying, “We discovered this man misleading the people of our nation and telling them not to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming that he himself was the Messiah, a king!”
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man does not drive out evil spirits except by [the power of] Beelzebub, the chief of evil spirits.”
As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, He spoke out, and said, “You people [think you] know who I am and where I come from. I have not come on my own authority, but God, who sent me, is true and you do not know Him.
The man replied, “Is not that strange! You do not know where he came from and yet he restored my sight! [Note: The next sentence may be the beggar stating the Pharisees’ argument. See verse 24].
[but] during these final days He has spoken to us through His Son [Note: This period refers to the Christian age (See Acts 2:14-36)], whom He appointed to be heir of all things [and] through whom He created the universe. [See John 1:3; Col. 1:16].