Charles Ellicott Commentary John 9:28

"And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses." — John 9:28 (ASV)

Then they reviled him.—The Greek word occurs only here in the Gospels. The other passages where it occurs in the New Testament are Acts 23:4, 1 Corinthians 4:12, and 1 Peter 2:23. It expresses the passionate outburst of their anger, which was excited by his question, and vents itself in heaping reproaches upon him.

Thou art his disciple.—They cast his own reproach back upon himself, but, in stronger words than he had used, they mark out the distinction between Jesus and themselves. Thou art that Man’s disciple.

But we are Moses’ disciples.—The emphasis of the words is important. We, as opposed to you; Moses, as opposed to that Man’s.