[40] On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” [41] Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? [42] Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” [43] Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. [44] Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him. [45] Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” [46] “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. [47] “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. [48] “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? [49] No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” [50] Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, [51] “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” [52] They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” [The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.] [53] Then they all went home,
