John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:20
And there were certain Greeks ,.... "Hellenes", so called, from Hellen, a king of that name, as Pliny says F18 Nat. His. l. 4. c. 7. These were not Graecizing Jews, or Jews that dwelt in Greece, and spoke the Greek language; for they were called not Hellenes, but Hellenists; but these were, as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions render it, Gentiles; and were either mere Gentiles, and yet devout and religious men, who were allowed to offer sacrifice, and to worship, in the court of... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves ,.... Either when assembled in their own private houses, or in the sanhedrim; or as they stood together in the streets, seeing Jesus pass by in such pomp, and such a multitude with him: perceive ye how ye prevail nothing ? the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions read, "we prevail nothing", so Nonnus; the sense is the same; suggesting, that all their wise schemes and crafty councils signified nothing; the commands they enjoined the people not to... read more