John Calvin Commentary John 7:53

"And they went every man unto his own house:" — John 7:53 (ASV)

And every man went to his own house. Now follows an astonishing conclusion to the event.

If anyone takes into account the dominance of the priests at that time, how enraged they were, and how vast their retinue was, and, on the other hand, if he considers that Christ was unarmed and defenseless, and that there was no group of men to protect him, the conclusion must be that it was all over for him a hundred times.

When such a formidable conspiracy is dissolved of its own accord, and when all those men, like waves of the sea, break themselves by their own violence, who will not acknowledge that they were scattered by the hand of God?

But God always remains true to His character; and therefore, whenever he pleases, he will bring to nothing all the efforts of enemies, so that, while they have everything in their power, and are ready and prepared to carry out their plan, they will depart without having accomplished their work.

And we have often found that, whatever schemes our enemies have devised to extinguish the Gospel, yet by the amazing kindness of God, the endeavor immediately fell powerless to the ground.