Charles Ellicott Commentary John 7:44

"And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him." — John 7:44 (ASV)

And some of them would have taken him—i.e., those who asked “Doth the Christ, then, come out of Galilee?” (John 7:41). The officers of the Sanhedrin were present all this time (John 7:32), and are immediately mentioned as distinct from the “some” of this verse.

No man laid hands on him.—Compare to John 7:30. The reason is not here repeated. The fact is in part explained by the existence of a section who received him as the Prophet and as the Christ, and in part by the power of his presence and words which impressed even the officers sent to take him. .