John Calvin Commentary John 12:29

"The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him." — John 12:29 (ASV)

That it thundered. It was truly appalling that the assembled multitude was unmoved by such an evident miracle.

Some are so deaf that they hear as a confused sound what God had distinctly pronounced. Others are less dull of hearing, yet they greatly diminish the majesty of the Divine voice by pretending that it was an angel who spoke.

But the same thing happens every day. For God speaks clearly enough in the Gospel. In it, the power and energy of the Spirit are also displayed—a power that ought to shake heaven and earth. Yet many are just as little affected by the doctrine as if it had only proceeded from a mortal man, while others consider God's word to be confused and unintelligible, as if it were nothing more than thunder.

But a question arises: Did that voice sound from heaven without any profit or advantage? I reply that what the Evangelist here ascribes to the multitude belongs only to a part of them, for there were some besides the Apostles who did not interpret it so badly. However, the Evangelist intended to point out briefly what commonly happens in the world: namely, that most people, while they hear God, do not truly hear Him, even though He speaks plainly and distinctly.