Discovery BoxJohn 7:32 
Context7:32 The Pharisees 1 heard the crowd 2 murmuring these things about Jesus, 3 so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers 4 to arrest him. 5
John 7:45
Context7:45 Then the officers 6 returned 7 to the chief priests and Pharisees, 8 who said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him back with you?” 9
1 sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.
2 tn Or “The common people” (as opposed to the religious authorities like the Pharisees).
3 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn 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).
5 tn Grk “to seize him.” In the context of a deliberate attempt by the servants of the chief priests and Pharisees to detain Jesus, the English verb “arrest” conveys the point more effectively.
6 tn 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 tn Grk “came.”
8 sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.
9 tn Grk “Why did you not bring him?” The words “back with you” are implied.
