Nicodemus

A man of the Pharisees visits Jesus after dark. Nicodemus begins politely, “we know that thou art a teacher come from God,” and is met with an answer he does not expect: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” His honest question, “How can these things be?”, opens one of the central conversations of John 3. He appears again in John 7, when the other leaders want Jesus arrested and Nicodemus asks, “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him?” The first scene in John 3 is the place to begin.

14 verses

John

John 3:1

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

John 3:2

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:4

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

John 3:5

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:6

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:7

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

John 3:8

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:9

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

John 3:10

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

John 7:50

Nicodemus saith unto them,(he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

John 7:51

Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

John 7:52

They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

John 7:53

And every man went unto his own house.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

The people is victor, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. He is first noticed as visiting Jesus by night (John 3:1-21) for the purpose of learning more of his doctrines, which our Lord then unfolded to him, giving prominence to the necessity of being “born again.” He is next met with in the Sanhedrin (7:50-52), where he protested against the course they were taking in plotting against Christ. Once more he is mentioned as taking part in the preparation for the anointing and burial of the body of Christ (John 19:39). We hear nothing more of him. There can be little doubt that he became a true disciple.

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From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(conqueror of the people), a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews and a teacher of Israel, (John 3:1,10) whose secret visit to our Lord was the occasion of the discourse recorded only by St. John. In Nicodemus a noble candor and a simple love of truth shine out in the midst of hesitation and fear of man. He finally became a follower of Christ, and came with Joseph of Arimathaea to take down and embalm the body of Jesus.