John 7:45-46

Context

Lack of Belief

7:45 Then the officers¹ returned² to the chief priests and Pharisees,³ who said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him back with you?”⁴ 7:46 The officers replied, “No one ever spoke like this man!”

[7:45] ¹tn 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] ²tn Grk “came.”

[7:45] ³sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.

[7:45] ⁴tn Grk “Why did you not bring him?” The words “back with you” are implied.