John Chapter 12 verse 17 Holy Bible
The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness.
read chapter 12 in ASV
Now the people who were with him when his voice came to Lazarus in the place of the dead, and gave him life again, had been talking about it.
read chapter 12 in BBE
The crowd therefore that was with him bore witness because he had called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from among [the] dead.
read chapter 12 in DARBY
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
read chapter 12 in KJV
read chapter 12 in WBT
The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.
read chapter 12 in WEB
The multitude, therefore, who are with him, were testifying that he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and did raise him out of the dead;
read chapter 12 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 17-19. - These verses connect the enthusiasm of the multitudes with the great miracle of John 11, indicating a point concerning which the synoptic narrative is silent, and further they consociate the miracle and its effect upon the multitude with aggravation of the malignant feeling of the constituted authorities which leads to the capture and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. Verse 17. - The multitude therefore which was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, were bearing witness. The seventeenth verse goes back to the (ὄχλος) multitude who are mentioned in John 11:42; i.e. to the friends of Mary and Martha and to other inhabitants of Bethany, as well as visitors from Jerusalem (John 11:31). All these are involved in the explicit declaration, ὁ ὤν μετ αὐτοῦ. Which was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and (not only so, but) raised him from among the dead. Those who had actually beheld the miracle, and were as eye and ear witnesses of the event, who had hovered about Bethany since his return to it, - these were bearing witness. They spread themselves abroad in the crowd of Galilaean pilgrims and others, and were uttering their testimony on all sides. The word is used absolutely, as in John 19:35, and the imperfect tense should not be turned here into a mere preterit.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) When he called Lazarus . . . . bare record.--Several MSS. and some of the oldest versions read, "bare record that He called Lazarus out of the grave, and raised him from the dead." The difference in the texts is only that of one letter (??? and ???). If we take the reading which was adopted by our translators, and which is best supported, we must distinguish between the multitude mentioned in this verse, and that mentioned in John 12:18. The meaning of this text is that the Jews of John 12:9; John 12:11, and those of John 11:45, with the people of Bethany, bear witness of the event, the recurrence of which they had themselves seen; and that this testimony was received by the multitude of pilgrims who went forth therefore to receive Jesus as the Messiah. (Comp. especially Luke 19:37.) This interpretation makes the Jews of Jerusalem themselves the witnesses whose testimony leads the multitude to receive our Lord as the Christ.If we take the alternative, but less probable text, the multitude in both verses will be one and the same. . . .
