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Selected Verse: John 3:1 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 3:1 |
King James |
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
NIGHT INTERVIEW OF NICODEMUS WITH JESUS. (John 3:1-21)
Nicodemus--In this member of the Sanhedrim sincerity and timidity are seen struggling together. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
A man of the Pharisees - A Pharisee. See the notes at Mat 3:7.
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews - One of the "Sanhedrin," or great council of the nation. He is twice mentioned after this as being friendly to our Saviour; in the first instance as advocating his cause, and defending him against the unjust suspicion of the Jews Joh 7:50, and in the second instance as one who came to aid in embalming his body, Joh 19:39. It will be recollected that the design of John in writing this gospel was to show that Jesus was the Messiah. To do this he here adduces the testimony of one of the rulers of the Jews, who early became convinced of it, and who retained the belief of it until the death of Jesus. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
A man
With a reference to the last word of the previous chapter. The interview with Nicodemus is, apart from the important truth which it embodies, an illustration of Christ's knowledge of what was in man. Godet truthfully observes that John reminds us by the word ἄνθρωπος (man), that Nicodemus was a specimen of the race which Jesus knew so well.
Named Nicodemus
Literally, Nicodemus, the name unto him. The name means conqueror of the people (νὶκη, victory, and δῆμος, people), though some give it a Hebrew derivation meaning innocent blood.
A ruler
A member of the Sanhedrim. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| A ruler - One of the great council. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews - One of the members of the grand Sanhedrin; for such were ordinarily styled rulers among the Jews. A person of the name of Nicodemus, the son of Gorion, is mentioned in the Jewish writings, who lived in the time of Vespasian, and was reputed to be so rich that he could support all the inhabitants of Jerusalem for ten years. But this is said in their usual extravagant mode of talking. |
39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?