And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. I am able to destroy the temple of God -
1st. These words were not fairly quoted. Jesus had said, John 2:19, Destroy this temple, and I will build it again in three days.
2dly. The inuendo which they produce, applying these words to a pretended design to destroy the temple at Jerusalem, was utterly unfair; for these words he spoke of the temple of his body.
It is very easy, by means of a few small alterations, to render the most holy things and innocent persons odious to the world, and even to take away the life of the innocent.