Good News Translation renders this verse as a statement, but in Greek it is a question expecting the answer “No.”

As elsewhere, references to the Law must be made plural in order to indicate the entire body of laws, for example, “in accordance with our laws.”

In this context we cannot condemn a man may be expressed as a matter of necessity, rather than potentiality or ability, for example, “we should not condemn a man” or “we must not condemn a man.”

Before hearing him may be rendered “before we hear what he has to say.” This reference is to a formal defense rather than merely getting a report of what he may have said.

Finding out what he has done is the meaning of Nicodemus’ words in the last part of this verse. Revised Standard Version implies that they were to find out what vocation Jesus was engaged in (“and learning what he does?”). Jerusalem Bible (“discovering what he is about?”) is rather high level, as is Moffatt (“ascertaining his offence?”); New English Bible translates as “learned the facts?”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .