Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 7:45

"The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why did ye not bring him?" — John 7:45 (ASV)

This text indicates that the chief priests and Pharisees had sent an arresting party, who failed in their mission. Since the high priest belonged to the Sadducean party, the coalition of the Pharisees and Sadducees was significant. These two groups were strongly opposed to each other in doctrine (Acts 23:7), but their common animosity toward Jesus induced them to combine for action against him.