What does John 7:46 mean?

Jesus has generated heated disagreement (John 7:43), but the festival crowds (John 7:12–13) are unwilling to start a full-scale riot over His preaching (John 7:44). All the same, after being ordered to arrest Jesus, officials sent by the Pharisees come back empty-handed (John 7:32, 45). Even though they have legal authority, they decide not to follow through on their mission. Their excuse is not about civil unrest or confusion over who to bring in. Instead, the men tell the religious authorities that Jesus' words are the reason they chose not to arrest Him! Remarkably, Jesus' preaching during this episode is so compelling that, even for those who disagree with Him, arrest seems to be an inappropriate response.

This doesn't necessarily mean the men were converted. But something about the way Jesus spoke, and what He said, apparently made arrest seem like the wrong choice. The Pharisees might have described Jesus as a rebel or an angry troublemaker. In any case, what the officials found was not what they expected.

Naturally, this sends the Pharisees into something of a temper tantrum. This highlights one of the useful applications of this passage: understanding the mindset of Jesus' religious critics. This incident clearly shows the danger of letting ego, arrogance, or tradition guide one's spiritual life. The Pharisees will continue (John 7:47–49) to insult anyone who thinks differently than they do. In fact, they will even turn on one of their own (John 7:50–52).