John Chapter 8, Verse 7
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7: ως δε επεμενον ερωτωντες αυτον ανακυψας ειπεν προς αυτους ο αναμαρτητος υμων πρωτος τον λιθον επ αυτη βαλετω
7: So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and
said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him
first cast a stone at her.
7: When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and
said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a
stone at her.
They continued asking him. They pressed the question upon him. They were determined to extort an answer from him, and showed a perseverance in evil which has been unhappily often imitated.
Is without sin. That is, without this particular sin; he who has not himself been guilty of this very crime -- for in this place the connection evidently demands this meaning.
Let him first cast a stone at her. In the punishment by death, one of the witnesses threw the culprit from the scaffold, and the other threw the first stone, or rolled down a stone to crush him. See Deut 17:6, Deut 17:7. This was in order that the witness might feel his responsibility in giving evidence, as he was also to be the executioner. Jesus therefore put them to the test. Without pronouncing on her case, he directed them, if any of them were innocent, to perform the office of executioner. This was said, evidently, well knowing their guilt, and well knowing that no one would dare to do it.
