The leaders had given a clear order: take Him (John 7:32). Now their officers came back empty-handed, and the leaders wanted to know why. Gill pictures them "transported with rage and fury" at the failure. The question is a demand for an account. Barnes explains that the officers "dared not take him" because they had been so impressed by what Jesus said.

The officers answered simply, "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:46). They gave no excuse about the crowd or the danger. Barnes calls it "A remarkable testimony to the commanding eloquence of Jesus." Gill says they had heard Him speak "with such majesty and authority." The Pharisees would not accept it: "Are ye also deceived?" (John 7:47).

"Officers" translates hupēretai. Thayer says the word properly meant "an under rower, subordinate rower," and came to be used "of the servants or officers of the Sanhedrin," the Jewish ruling council. These were men under orders, sent to make an arrest.

The chief priests and Pharisees acting together shows the leaders united against Jesus (John 7:32). Later the same groups would gather a council and plan His death (John 11:47, 53), and officers "from the chief priests and Pharisees" would come with Judas to arrest Him (John 18:3).

This question shows that no one could lay a hand on Jesus before God's time. The people had tried, "but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come" (John 7:30, 44). Now the officers themselves came back without Him. Matthew Henry writes, "The very officers that were sent to take him were taken with him."

The power that stopped them was His word. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary says, "Never any man spake with that wisdom, and power, and grace, that convincing clearness, and that sweetness, wherewith Christ spake." When His hour did come, He was taken and bound (John 18:12). He was not overpowered; He went forth to meet them, "knowing all things that should come upon him" (John 18:4).