John 7:41-52

41Other people said, ‘This man is the Messiah.’ But some other people said, ‘The Messiah will not come from Galilee!

42The Bible says that the Messiah will come from King David's family. He will come from Bethlehem, the town where David lived.’

43In this way the people had different thoughts about Jesus.

44Some people wanted to take hold of him. But nobody could put their hands on him to take him away.

45The officers returned to the leaders of the priests and the Pharisees. The leaders asked their officers, ‘Why did you not bring Jesus here?’

46The officers answered, ‘Nobody has ever spoken great things like this man speaks.’

47The Pharisees replied, ‘He seems to have made you believe his lies!

48None of the Pharisees or our leaders believe in him.

49But this crowd does not know what God's Law teaches. God will surely punish them.’

50Nicodemus spoke to them. He himself was one of the Pharisees. He was the man who had gone to speak with Jesus before. He said,

51‘We must find out first what this man has done. Then we can decide if it is right to punish him. Our law says that we must listen to him first.’

52They answered Nicodemus, ‘Perhaps you come from Galilee, as well as him! Study what the Bible teaches. You will learn that no prophet of God ever comes from Galilee.’