Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 8:4

"they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act." — John 8:4 (ASV)

The present episode took place in the temple court at dawn. The entire affair had the appearance of trickery, a trap specially prepared to catch Jesus. The Sanhedrin forced their way into the center of the group and interrupted Jesus’ teaching by bringing a woman before him. The guilt of the woman was indisputable; she had been “caught in the act of adultery,” and Jesus did not challenge the charge. The dilemma that the scribes and Pharisees posed was this: According to the law, she should be put to death . If, then, Jesus refused to confirm the death penalty, he could be charged with contradicting the law of God and would himself be liable to condemnation. If, on the other hand, he confirmed the verdict of the Pharisees, he would lose his reputation for compassion; and possibly he could have been reported to the Romans as inciting the Sanhedrin to independent exercise of the death penalty.