Mark 11:32

32 ἀλλὰ εἴπωμεν · Ἐξ ἀνθρώπων;— ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ὄχλον, ἅπαντες γὰρ εἶχον τὸν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι ⸃ προφήτης ἦν.

Mark 11:32 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 11:32

But if we shall say, of men
That John's baptism was an human invention, and he had no authority from God to preach and administer it,

they feared the people;
lest being enraged thereby they should, at once, rise up, and destroy them:

for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed;
a real prophet, one truly sent from God, and had his commission and credentials from him: this was the general sentiment of the people; (See Gill on Matthew 21:26).

Mark 11:32 In-Context

30 τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἦν ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; ἀποκρίθητέ μοι.

31 καὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες · Τί εἴπωμεν;⸃ ἐὰν εἴπωμεν · Ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ · Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;

32 ἀλλὰ εἴπωμεν · Ἐξ ἀνθρώπων;— ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ὄχλον, ἅπαντες γὰρ εἶχον τὸν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι ⸃ προφήτης ἦν.

33 καὶ ἀποκριθέντες τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγουσιν ⸃· Οὐκ οἴδαμεν. καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτοῖς · Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ λέγω ὑμῖν ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ.