João 12:29

29 A multidão, pois, que ali estava, e que a ouvira, dizia ter havido um trovão; outros diziam: Um anjo lhe falou.

João 12:29 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:29

The people therefore that stood by and heard [it]
Some more confusedly, who were farthest off; others more distinctly, who were nearer: the first of these,

said that it thundered;
as it used to do when "Bath Kol" was heard, which, as the Jews say ^F1,

``is a voice that comes out of heaven proceeding from the midst of another voice,''

as thunder; wherefore some took this for thunder, and others for the voice of an angel out of the thunder:

others said, an angel spoke to him;
these being nearer, perceived it was an articulate voice, which expressed certain distinct words, which they thought were delivered by an angel; for the Jews had a mighty notion of the discourse and conversation of angels with men, which their doctors pretended to understand; particularly R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a Rabbi, who was living at this time, had learned their speech, and was well versed in it ^F2.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Piske Tosephot in T. Bab. Sanhedrin, art. 30.
F2 T. Bab. Succa, fol. 28. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 134. 1.

João 12:29 In-Context

27 Agora a minha alma está perturbada; e que direi eu? Pai, salva-me desta hora? Mas para isto vim a esta hora.

28 Pai, glorifica o teu nome. Veio, então, do céu esta voz: Já o tenho glorificado, e outra vez o glorificarei.

29 A multidão, pois, que ali estava, e que a ouvira, dizia ter havido um trovão; outros diziam: Um anjo lhe falou.

30 Respondeu Jesus: Não veio esta voz por minha causa, mas por causa de vós.

31 Agora é o juízo deste mundo; agora será expulso o príncipe deste mundo.