What does John 10:23 mean?

This incident happens a few months after the extended narrative found in chapters 7, 8, 9, and the first half of chapter 10. Those events occurred at the Feast of Booths, held in the fall. Now John describes a separate visit to Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, in early winter. Though not one of the required feasts given by Moses, this celebration has become one of the most famous in Judaism, going by the more familiar name of Hanukkah.

The colonnade of Solomon is a portico: a roofed outdoor hallway lined with columns. This is on the east side of the temple. The walkway itself was elevated from the surrounding land, and partly walled in. That arrangement is important to the story, given the way Jesus is approached by His critics. Because of the layout, a person walking along this portico had the temple on one side, and either a solid wall or a sheer drop on the other.

The next verse indicates that religious leaders "gathered around" (John 10:24) Jesus . The Greek term used is ekyklōsan, which literally means "they surrounded, encircled, or encompassed." The root word is often used to describe the act of siege. In other words, hostile religious leaders are about to "corner" Jesus as He walks in the temple.