King James Bible
"Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly."
During the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, Jewish leaders physically surrounded Jesus in Solomon's Portico. This confrontational positioning suggests mounting tension and their intent to force a decisive answer from him. The leaders express frustration with Jesus' indirect teaching methods, particularly his use of parables and metaphors. Their complaint literally means "How long will you keep us in suspense?" revealing their impatience with his refusal to make explicit messianic claims. They demand an unambiguous declaration of messianic identity, seeking grounds for either acceptance or accusation. Their request for "plain" speech contrasts with Jesus' typical figurative teaching, though Jesus had already given sufficient evidence through his works.