John Calvin Commentary John 7:25

"Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to kill?" — John 7:25 (ASV)

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem; that is, those to whom the rulers had communicated their plots and who knew how much Christ was hated; for the people at large—as we saw recently—regarded this as a dream or as madness. Those people, therefore, who knew with what inveterate rage the rulers of their nation burned against Christ, had some reason to wonder that, while Christ in the temple not only speaks openly but preaches freely, the rulers say nothing to him. But they err in this respect: that in a miracle altogether divine, they do not take into account the providence of God.

Thus carnal men, whenever they witness any unusual work of God, do indeed wonder, but no consideration of the power of God ever enters their minds. But it is our duty to examine God's works more wisely; and especially when wicked men, with all their contrivances, do not hinder the progress of the Gospel as much as they would desire, we should be fully persuaded that their efforts have been rendered fruitless because God, by interposing his word, has defeated them.