John Gill 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)

The people therefore that stood by and heard [it] Some more confusedly, who were farthest off; others more distinctly, who were nearer: the first of these,

said that it thundered ; as it used to do when "Bath Kol" was heard, which, as the Jews say ^F1 , is a voice that comes out of heaven proceeding from the midst of another voice,' as thunder; wherefore some took this for thunder, and others for the voice of an angel out of the thunder:

others said, an angel spoke to him ; these being nearer, perceived it was an articulate voice, which expressed certain distinct words, which they thought were delivered by an angel; for the Jews had a mighty notion of the discourse and conversation of angels with men, which their doctors pretended to understand; particularly R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a Rabbi, who was living at this time, had learned their speech, and was well versed in it ^F2 .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F1: Piske Tosephot in T. Bab. Sanhedrin, art. 30.
• F2: T. Bab. Succa, fol. 28. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 134. 1.