The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
The Jews - that is, those in authority (see the note at John 1:19).
Therefore said unto him that was cured, It is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed - a glorious testimony to the cure, as instantaneous and complete, from the lips of the most prejudiced! In ordinary circumstances the rulers had the law on their side (Nehemiah 13:15; Jeremiah 17:21). But when the man referred them to "Him that had made him whole" as his authority, the argument was resistless.