Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.

Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews,

So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had been told that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things [under their breath] about Him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent guards to arrest Him.

Then the guards went [back] to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring Him [here with you]?”

Then the Pharisees said to them, “Have you also been deluded and swept off your feet?

Has any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?

Now the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the center of the court,

Then the Pharisees told Him, “You are testifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid.”

Then they brought the man who was formerly blind to the Pharisees.

So the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He smeared mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.”

Then some of the Pharisees said, “This Man [Jesus] is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner (a non-observant Jew) do such signs and miracles?” So there was a difference of opinion among them.

Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “Are we also blind?”

But some of them went back to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

So the chief priests and Pharisees convened a council [of the leaders in Israel], and said, “What are we doing? For this man performs many signs (attesting miracles).

Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it so that they might arrest Him.

Then the Pharisees [argued and] said to one another, “You see that your efforts are futile. Look! The whole world has gone [running] after Him!”

Nevertheless, even many of the leading men believed in Him [as Savior and Messiah], but because of the Pharisees they would not confess it, for fear that [if they acknowledged Him openly] they would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated);

So Judas, having obtained the Roman cohort and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.