They could not but see that their expectation in regard to the Messiah was not sustained by prophecy; but they would not renounce the theories that had flattered their ambition. They would not admit that they had misapprehended the Scriptures they claimed to teach. From one to another passed the inquiry, How hath this youth knowledge, having never learned? The light was shining in darkness; but "the darkness apprehended it not." John 1:5, R. V.

De kunne ikke undgå at se, at deres forventninger med hensyn til Messias ikke fandt støtte i profetierne; men de ville ikke slippe de teorier, der havde været smigrende for deres ærgerrighed. De ville ikke indrømme, at de havde misforstået de skrifter, som de gjorde krav på at fortolke. Fra den ene til den anden lød dette spørgsmål: Hvorfra har denne unge mand sin viden, da han aldrig har lært noget Lyset skinnede i mørket; men "mørket begreb det ikke".