In this episode, Jesus has been teaching in the temple, impressing those listening.  Many of them think either that Jesus is “the prophet” or even the Messiah/Christ.  This hubbub leads the Pharisees to send officers to arrest Jesus.  But no one bothers him.  When the officers explain why they did not arrest Jesus, Nicodemus enters the fray.  He wants to know why Jesus is not being given a fair hearing.  But Nicodemus is simply criticized by being asked whether he came from Galilee.  The story is then interrupted by a story seemingly out of context: the incident with the woman caught in the act of adultery.