John Calvin Commentary John 7:44

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

Some of them wished to seize him. By these words, the Evangelist means that they not only despised Christ, but also that their wicked rejection of him was accompanied by cruelty and eagerness to do him injury; for superstition is always cruel.

That their efforts were unavailing, we ought to ascribe to the providence of God. For since Christ’s hour was not yet come, as has been said before, guarded by the protection of his Father, on whom he relied, he surmounted all dangers.