Jesus' absence from the first days of the Festival was noticed both by the Jewish religious leaders and by the 'ordinary people (7: 1 0-13). He arrived inconspicuously half-way through and began to teach the crowds in the Temple courtyards (7: 14). The comment of the religious leaders in 7: 15 reflects the thought of Mark 1:22 and is answered by Jesus' affirmation of his divine authority (7: 16-18). Jesus then challenged the leaders (7: 19) and was declared to be demon-possessed (7:20, Mark 3:22). What follows in 7:21-24 shows that what had particularly angered the leaders was the healing of the cripple on the Sabbath (5:8-10). It was allowed by the rabbis that circumcision could be performed on the Sabbath, thereby breaking one law to keep another. If they could accept this, why could they not accept the restoration to health and life of a severely handicapped man as right use of the Sabbath?