John 9:8-9

John’s record of the conversation of the blind man’s neighbors is interesting. It shows that the change in him was so remarkable that even some people who knew him well could not believe that he was the same man. The former beggar’s personal testimony settled the debate. No one could argue with that.

"The change wrought by regeneration in the converted Christian is so great that other people often find it difficult to believe he is the same person; so it was with the physical change effected by Jesus in the blind beggar." [Note: Tasker, p. 124.]

Evidently this man had been a beggar out of necessity rather than choice. He later demonstrated a sense of humor, knowledge of history and Scripture, the ability to withstand intimidation, and facility in arguing logically (cf. John 9:27; John 9:30-32). These traits show that he was far from mentally incompetent.