{For a good work we stone thee not} (peri kalou ergou ou
lithazomen). "Concerning a good deed we are not stoning thee."
Flat denial that the healing of the blind man on the Sabbath had
led them to this attempt ( 8:59 ) in spite of the facts. {But for
blasphemy} (alla peri blasph(886d)ias). See Ac 26:7 where peri
with the genitive is also used with egkaloumai for the charge
against Paul. This is the only example in John of the word
lasph(886d)ia (cf. Mt 12:31 ). {And because that thou, being a
man, makest thyself God} (kai hoti su anthr(9370)os (936e) poieis
seauton theon). In 5:18 they stated the charge more
accurately: "He called God his own Father, making himself equal
with God." That is, he made himself the Son of God. This he did
beyond a doubt. But was it blasphemy? Only if he was not the Son
of God. The penalty for blasphemy was death by stoning ( Le
24:16 1Ki 21:10,13 ).
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