John Chrysostom : Then that you may not deem it strange that they believed not, he introduces the prophecy which saith "Hearing ye shall hear and not understand," more now than then: "and ye shall see and not perceive" more now than then. This is not spoken for the former sort, but for the unbelievers. How then? Was it contrary to the prophecy, that those believed? "Go," it says, "unto this people" that is, to the unbelieving people. He did not say this to insult them, but to remove the offence. — Homily on Acts 55 Methodius of Olympus : You will discover the meaning of this, my attentive hearer, if you do but take up and examine what follows upon this narration: For hearing, he says, ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing, ye shall see, and not perceive. — Methodius Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Oecumenius : For turning the saying toward a future time, he indicates the reference of the prophecies to later times. Consider, however, the precision regarding the Spirit. He did not say, "And you will not look," but rather, "and seeing you will see and will not perceive." Nor, that you will not hear, but that you will hear and will not understand. — Commentary on Acts Tertullian : Through them, to wit, had "the heart of the People been made thick, lest they should see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with a heart" obstructed by the "fats" of which He had expressly forbidden the eating, teaching man not to be studious of the stomach. — On Fasting