Jesus looked for a moment upon the scene,--the trembling victim in her shame, the hard-faced dignitaries, devoid of even human pity. His spirit of stainless purity shrank from the spectacle. Well He knew for what purpose this case had been brought to Him. He read the heart, and knew the character and life history of everyone in His presence. These would-be guardians of justice had themselves led their victim into sin, that they might lay a snare for Jesus. Giving no sign that He had heard their question, He stooped, and fixing His eyes upon the ground, began to write in the dust.

Et øjeblik så Jesus på, hvad der foregik: det skælvende og dybt skamfulde offer, øvrighedspersonerne med deres strenge ansigter, blottet for enhver menneskelig medlidenhed. Hans fuldkommen rene sjæl gøs ved dette syn. Han vidste godt, af hvilken grund denne sag var blevet forelagt ham. Han læste deres tanker og kendte karakteregenskaberne og levnedsløbet hos enhver af dem, der stod hos ham. Disse selvbestaltede vogtere af retfærdigheden havde selv ført deres offer ud i synden for at kunne lægge snarer for Jesus. Uden at tilkendegive, at han havde hørt deres spørgsmål, bøjede han sig ned, og medens han holdt blikket fæstet ved jorden, gav han sig til at skrive i støvet.