26 They weren't able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
And they could not take hold of his words before the people,.... Which was what they wanted; that if he had dropped any seditious and treasonable expressions against the government, they might be witnesses against him; or if he had not vindicated the liberties of the people, and the rights of the Jewish nation, these might be exasperated against him, and leave him:
and they marvelled at his answer; which was so formed, as to give them no handle against him either way:
and held their peace; they were silenced, and had nothing to say to him, nor against him, but left him, and went their way.
They could not take hold of his words before the people - As they did afterward before the sanhedrim, in the absence of the people, Luke 22:67, &c.
*More commentary available at chapter level.