Discovery BoxJohn 2:18 
Context2:18 So then the Jewish leaders 1 responded, 2 “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?” 3
John 8:5
Context8:5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death 4 such women. 5 What then do you say?”
John 9:34
Context9:34 They replied, 6 “You were born completely in sinfulness, 7 and yet you presume to teach us?” 8 So they threw him out.
John 11:16
Context11:16 So Thomas (called Didymus 9 ) 10 said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, so that we may die with him.” 11
1 tn Or “the Jewish authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” In NT usage the term ᾿Ιουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) may refer to the entire Jewish people, the residents of Jerusalem and surrounding territory, the authorities in Jerusalem, or merely those who were hostile to Jesus. Here the author refers to the authorities or leaders in Jerusalem. (For further information see R. G. Bratcher, “‘The Jews’ in the Gospel of John,” BT 26 [1975]: 401-9.)
2 tn Grk “answered and said to him.”
3 sn The request “What sign can you show us” by Jesus’ adversaries was a request for a defense of his actions – a mark of divine authentication. Whether this was a request for a miracle is not entirely clear. Jesus never obliged such a request. Yet, ironically, the only sign the Jewish leadership will get is that predicted by Jesus in 2:19 – his crucifixion and resurrection. Cf. the “sign of Jonah” in the synoptics (Matt 12:39, 40; Luke 11:29-32).
4 sn An allusion to Lev 20:10 and Deut 22:22-24.
5 sn The accusers themselves subtly misrepresented the law. The Mosaic law stated that in the case of adultery, both the man and woman must be put to death (Lev 20:10, Deut 22:22), but they mentioned only such women.
6 tn Grk “They answered and said to him.” This has been simplified in the translation to “They replied.”
7 tn Or “From birth you have been evil.” The implication of this insult, in the context of John 9, is that the man whom Jesus caused to see had not previously adhered rigorously to all the conventional requirements of the OT law as interpreted by the Pharisees. Thus he had no right to instruct them about who Jesus was.
8 tn Grk “and are you teaching us?”
9 sn Didymus means “the twin” in Greek.
10 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
11 sn One gets the impression from Thomas’ statement “Let us go too, so that we may die with him” that he was something of a pessimist resigned to his fate. And yet his dedicated loyalty to Jesus and his determination to accompany him at all costs was truly commendable. Nor is the contrast between this statement and the confession of Thomas in 20:28, which forms the climax of the entire Fourth Gospel, to be overlooked; certainly Thomas’ concept of who Jesus is has changed drastically between 11:16 and 20:28.
