As noted at the end of John chapter 7, the verses of John 7:53 - 8:11 are either omitted or placed in various locations in the Book of John according to the Greek texts and other manuscripts. To include these verses, John 7:53 and 8:1 would be placed together at the end of John chapter 7, and the next record begins in John 8:2. It is during the time of the end of the Feast of Tent-Pitching (tabernacles, booths; refer to John 7:2).
John 7:53 - 8:1:
7:53And they journeyed each-person into his house, 8:1but Jesus journeyed into the Mount of Olives.
.2But of daybreak again he arrived into the temple and all the people came towards him, and having sat-down he taught them. .3But the scribes and the Pharisees lead a woman having been taken-hold2 on adultery, and having stood her in (the) midst .4they say to him, "Teacher, this woman was taken-hold2 on committing-adultery self-caught, .5but Moses in our law commanded to stone the people-of-this-kind. Therefore what do you say?" .6But they said this tempting him in order that they may have (something) to accuse him.
But Jesus having bent below wrote-down with the finger into the earth. .7But as they remained-on asking him he bent-up and said to them, "The sinless-person of you first must throw a stone on her." .8And again having bent-down he wrote into the earth. .9But the (people) having heard went-out one by-one having begun from the elders and he was left-down only and the woman being in (the) midst. .10But Jesus having bent-up said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did not-one-person condemn you?" .11And the (woman) said, "Not-one-person, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; you must journey; you must no-longer sin from-now-on."
At daybreak (while the sun was rising) again Jesus approached from the Mount of Olives and came beside the people into the temple inside the city of Jerusalem. During that past time, historically, all the people were coming towards him (the mass or group of people collectively as one unit, one united assembly; this word usually refers to the descendants of Israel/Jacob).
After Jesus sat down in the correct position to give general instruction, he taught the people.
But the scribes (writers, the students and copiers of the scrolls being knowledgeable of the laws from their own viewpoint) and the Pharisees lead (bring, direct, conduct, convey) a woman who was and continued being taken hold of by them (they had received her in a downward motion seizing or overtaking her) resting or based on adultery (the voluntary action of debasing herself with/by someone or something else that is contaminating or defiling from God's viewpoint).
After they caused her to stand in the middle of them, they say to Jesus...
John the writer of the Book of John explains that the scribes and Pharisees during that past time were saying this to Jesus tempting him. The verb "to tempt" in this context means: to make trial-of or try in the bad sense of putting to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing to do wrong, trying to cause another to fall-aside from the truth of God's Word, enticing to make someone disbelieve what God says during that specific situation. The devil is the source of tempting with/by evil.
They were tempting Jesus for the purpose and result that they would have something to accuse him (to actively speak publicly against him as in a court proceeding).
But after Jesus bent below (moved into position with his head bent downwards), he spent time writing down with his finger into the earth (he was writing something on the ground).
The Jerusalem temple was under construction and renovations at this time and therefore it would have dust or dirt on the ground. John the writer does not write the contents of what Jesus wrote because the point is that not everything that God asks us to say or do has to be written down in the scriptures but that God also communicates to His people via the spirit that He gives to them during specific situations and circumstances.
However, as the scribes and Pharisees were remaining on (persisting, continued staying on) asking him with familiarity to give them his response, Jesus bent-up (moved back up straight, stood erect) and said to them...
Again (a second, another, further time, once again) after Jesus bent-down, he wrote into the earth (ground).
However, after the people heard what Jesus said, they were going out from that area one after another having begun from the elders (they started, commenced from the elder-men of the scribes and Pharisees, referring to those having more knowledge, wisdom, dignity, etc, elders in service, not the literal meaning of being older in age than other people). They were fully aware that they themselves had committed sin also.
Then Jesus was left remaining alone and the woman being in the middle of that area where they had placed her (as verse 3 above). Jesus stood up straight again and said to her...
The woman said, "Not one person, Lord (she addresses Jesus as "Master" recognizing his power and authority in this situation)."
[Reference: Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 17:6 and 7, 22:23 and 24; Luke 21:37; Matthew 4:1, 5:27-32, 19:9; John 1:38, 5:14 and 30; Romans 2:1 and 22, 7:3; Revelation 2:20-22. Also refer to the article Trial and Temptation. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
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