²⁰ His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; ²¹ but as to how he now sees, we do not know; or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him [and stop asking us]; ^[a]he is of age, he will speak for himself and give his own account of it.” ²² His parents said this because they were afraid of [the leaders of] the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated).