43. The people started taking sides against each other because of Jesus.
44. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45. When the temple police returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, they were asked, “Why didn't you bring Jesus here?”
46. They answered, “No one has ever spoken like that man!”
47. The Pharisees said to them, “Have you also been fooled?
48. Not one of the chief priests or the Pharisees has faith in him.
49. And these people who don't know the Law are under God's curse anyway.”
50. Nicodemus was there at the time. He was a member of the council, and was the same one who had earlier come to see Jesus. He said,
51. “Our Law doesn't let us condemn people before we hear what they have to say. We cannot judge them before we know what they have done.”
52. Then they said, “Nicodemus, you must be from Galilee! Read the Scriptures, and you will find that no prophet is to come from Galilee.”
53. Everyone else went home,