Great arguments, referring to popular ideas about the Messiah, arose about Jesus (7:40-43). A further attempt to arrest him failed (7:44). After the guards returned without Jesus, the religious leaders explicitly rejected Jesus' claims (7:47-48) and spoke contemptuously of the crowds who were listening to Jesus (7:49). Only Nicodemus had the courage to speak on behalf of Jesus to his fellow Pharisees but the others would not listen to him (7:50-52).