‘And Jesus lifted himself up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Does no man condemn you?”
Jesus then ‘lifts Himself up' again. It is the same verb but with what a different meaning. This time it is not a solemn act of forcefully facing up to angry, yet hypocritical men, but an act of graciousness towards a woman in need. And yet it is also stern.
There is no appeal to the crowd. None is needed. His quiet words to the woman are quite sufficient. The great Law interpreters have been there, and no one has condemned her. They have recognised that they stand with her as Law breakers, and even possibly some of them as men with a dubious reputation. So unless all are to be condemned to death she too can go free, but only after a stern warning.
We must note here that once the witnesses had withdrawn their testimony the case was legally closed. It was the witnesses who had to cast the first stones. If there were no eyewitnesses there could be no stoning.