John Calvin Commentary John 9:26

"They said therefore unto him, What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes?" — John 9:26 (ASV)

Again, therefore, they said to him. When we see wicked men so delighted in performing their own base actions, we ought to be ashamed of our sluggishness, in acting with such indifference about matters concerning Christ.

Though they search everywhere to obtain a basis for slander, the Lord remarkably defeats their attempts through the unshaken steadfastness of the blind man.

For not only does he maintain his position, but he freely and severely rebukes them, because after having clearly established and known the truth, they attempt to hide it by their persistent questioning. He also charges them with wicked hatred of Christ when he says,

Do you also wish to become his disciples? By this, he means that, though they were repeatedly convinced, they are so strongly biased by wicked and hostile attitudes that they will never give in.

It is an astonishing display of boldness when a man of poor and humble background, and especially vulnerable to criticism because of his poverty, fearlessly incites the anger of all the priests against himself.

If what was merely a small preparation for faith gave him such boldness when he faced the confrontation, what excuse can great preachers of the Gospel offer, who, even though they are safe from attack, become silent as soon as danger appears?

This question is also ironic, for he means that they are motivated by malice, and not by a sincere desire for the truth, to pressure him so earnestly to answer about this matter.