John Gill Commentary Luke 7:24

"And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?" — Luke 7:24 (ASV)

And when the messengers of John were departed
The Syriac and Persic versions read, "the disciples of John"; and the Arabic version, "the two disciples of John"; the two that he sent, when they were gone back with the answer of Christ;

he,
"Jesus", as the Persic version expresses it,

began to speak unto the people concerning John;
not caring to say any thing about him to the messengers, or whilst they were present, lest he should be charged with flattery; (See Gill on Matthew 11:7)

What went ye into the wilderness for to see? a reed shaken with the
wind ?
an inconsistent, wavering, and unstable man? if so, they were greatly mistaken; or the motions and gesture of the man? (See Gill on Matthew 11:7).