38. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “lord, who has believed our message?To whom has the lord revealed his powerful arm?”
39. But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,
40. “The Lord has blinded their eyesand hardened their hearts—so that their eyes cannot see,and their hearts cannot understand,and they cannot turn to meand have me heal them.”
41. Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory.
42. Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.