John8:4

This was a word of respect, but the passage gives the sense that their show of respect was fake. First, they interrupted His teaching, and then they pretended to show Him respect, but it quickly became obvious to all that their show of respect was an act.

“caught in the very act committing a crime”: This is a compound word that comes from the words “itself” and “theft.” It means to be caught “in theft itself” or “in the very act of theft,” just like when you catch a child with their hand in the cookie jar. Although the word “theft” is part of the word, it was used in more general ways to mean being “caught in the very act” of committing any crime. The addition of the word “adultery” tells us that the crime was not theft and therefore this word is being used in its general sense.