“Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” For a moment silence falls on the assembly. Nicodemus was a rich and influential man, learned in the law, and holding a high position among the rulers. What he said was true, and came home to the Pharisees with startling emphasis; they could not condemn a man unheard. But this was not the only reason that the haughty rulers remained confounded, gazing at him who had so boldly spoken in favor of justice. They were startled and chagrined that one of their own number had been so impressed by the power of Jesus as to openly defend him in the council. When they recovered from their astonishment, they addressed him with cutting sarcasm:— {2SP 348.3}

"Dømmer vor lov mon et menneske, uden at man først forhører ham og får rede på, hvad han har gjort?" (51.vers) De forsamlede tav et øjeblik. Nikodemus var en rig mand med stor indflydelse. Han var lærd og indtog en høj stilling blandt de øverste. Han talte sandhed, og den gjorde et stærkt indtryk på farisæerne. De kunne ikke fordømme et menneske uden at forhøre ham. Men denne var ikke den (349) eneste grund, hvorfor disse stolte øverster blev forvirrede, idet de så på ham, som så frimodig talte til forsvar for retfærdighed. De blev forbavsede og fortrydelige over, at en af deres egen midte havde fået et så dybt indtryk af Jesus, at han offentlig forsvarede ham i rådet. Så snart de overvandt deres forbavselse, tiltalte de ham med bidende spot: