John 7:44-45

Context
7:44 Some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.¹

Lack of Belief

7:45 Then the officers² returned³ to the chief priests and Pharisees,⁴ who said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him back with you?”⁵

[7:44] ¹sn Compare John 7:30 regarding the attempt to seize Jesus.

[7:45] ²tn Or “servants.” The “chief priests and Pharisees” is a comprehensive term for the groups represented in the ruling council (the Sanhedrin) as in John 7:45; 18:3; Acts 5:22, 26. As “servants” or “officers” of the Sanhedrin, their representatives should be distinguished from the Levites serving as temple police (perhaps John 7:30 and 44; also John 8:20; 10:39; 19:6; Acts 4:3). Even when performing ‘police’ duties such as here, their “officers” are doing so only as part of their general tasks (See K. H. Rengstorf, TDNT 8:540).

[7:45] ³tn Grk “came.”

[7:45] ⁴sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.

[7:45] ⁵tn Grk “Why did you not bring him?” The words “back with you” are implied.