John 12:29
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
The people therefore that stood by and heard it,.... Some more confusedly, who were farthest off; others more distinctly, who were nearer: the first of these,
said that it thundered; as it used to do when "Bath Kol" was heard, which, as the Jews say {a},
"is a voice that comes out of heaven proceeding from the midst of another voice,''
as thunder; wherefore some took this for thunder, and others for the voice of an angel out of the thunder:
others said, An angel spoke to him; these being nearer, perceived it was an articulate voice, which expressed certain distinct words, which they thought were delivered by an angel; for the Jews had a mighty notion of the discourse and conversation of angels with men, which their doctors pretended to understand; particularly R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a Rabbi, who was living at this time, had learned their speech, and was well versed in it {b}.
{a} Piske Tosephot in T. Bab. Sanhedrin, art. 30.
{b} T. Bab. Succa, fol. 28. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 134. 1.