¹ sn The tax collectors would bid to collect taxes for the Roman government and then add a surcharge, which they kept. Since tax collectors worked for Rome, they were viewed as traitors to their own people and were not well liked. Yet even they were moved by John’s call.

² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the connection with the preceding statement recording the Pharisee’s thoughts.

³ tn Grk “answering, said to him.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “answered him.”

sn Jesus answered him. Note that as the Pharisee is denying to himself that Jesus is a prophet, Jesus is reading his thoughts.

⁴ tn Grk “he said.”

⁵ sn That is, an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law. They worked closely with the Pharisees.

⁶ tn For this term, see Matt 22;6; Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5; 1 Thess 2:2.

⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁸ sn Tell my brother. In 1st century Jewish culture, a figure like a rabbi was often asked to mediate disputes, except that here mediation was not requested, but representation.