Albert Barnes Commentary John 12:19

"The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing: lo, the world is gone after him." — John 12:19 (ASV)

Prevail nothing. All your efforts are ineffectual to stop the progress of his opinions, and to prevent the people from believing on him.

The world. As we should say, "Everybody—all the city has gone out." The fact that he met with such success induced them to hasten their design of putting him to death (John 11:53).