they feared the multitude] Evil magistrates are kept, sometimes, from using cruelty, for fear of their inferiours: for, their breaking Gods law, gives example to the people to break theirs: they cast off Gods power, and the people cast off theirs. This is just with God, though the people sin in so doing. they took him for a prophet] The people deservedly esteemed him as a prophet, whom the priests unjustly and impiously received as no prophet, but an impostour, chap. 12. 24. Mark 3:22.