Charles Ellicott Commentary John 7:15

"The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" — John 7:15 (ASV)

How knoweth this man letters?—Their spirit is seen in what they marvel at. It is not the substance of His teaching that captures their attention, but the fact that He, who has never been formally trained as a Rabbi, is familiar with the literature of the schools. (See Acts 26:24, “much learning,” where “learning” represents the word translated here as “letters.”)

To them, He is like a layman and uneducated (compare the note on Acts 4:13), not known in the circles of professional interpreters—a demagogue who deceived the crowd; and they hear Him speaking with a learning and wisdom that excites their wonder, and unlocking mysteries to which they thought only they possessed the key.