“each” may refer to those gathered at the Sanhedrin or to all of those who were in Jerusalem for the feast. If it were the former, then we see how effective the words of Nicodemus were. If it is the latter, it is speaking of the end of the Feast of Tabernacles and the return of all to their homes. This is a sad thought because they had all heard Jesus and marveled at His words, but at the end of the day they just turn their backs on Him and go their own way, just as the Pharisees had done.

It is never good enough for a man or a woman to just know the Bible through and through and to be well-versed in Christian doctrine — our hearts must also be affected by that Word and our lives changed. To do this, we must have a relationship with the living Word of God, Jesus Himself. What about you? Are you relying upon your knowledge of Him or upon your good deeds, or are you denying yourself and trusting completely in His impartation of righteousness on your behalf? Jesus isn’t just a way to God, He is the ONLY way!

John 14:6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.

“a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” The rulers are so enraged that they make a false statement. In fact, at least 3 and maybe more prophets came from Galilee: Jonah (2 Kings 14:25), Elijah (1 Kings 17:1), and Nahum (Nahum 1:1).

2 Kings 14:25  He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

1 Kings 17:1  Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

Nahum 1:1  An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Perhaps even more serious than their brief lapse of memory concerning the birthplace of some of the prophets, is their failure to believe that God can raise up a prophet any place and any time He wants. How do you limit God? Do you deny Him the ability to do what He wants when He wants, even if it doesn’t agree with what you think should happen?

The leaders had condemned the crowd for not knowing the Law and Nicodemus immediately charges them with the same thing. They were not following their own law which is expressed by Rabbi Eleazer ben Pedath thusly, “Unless a mortal hears the pleas that a man can put forward, he is not able to give judgment.” (Ex. R., XXI. 3)

Note that Nicodemus did not deny Christ, but waited for the exact right time to confess Him and did that in the most effective manner possible. He didn’t try to blast them with the gospel (as he knew it) but interjected just enough salt into the conversation to change the flavor of it. It would be well for us to follow his example.

The religious leaders denied that any ruler or Pharisee believed on Jesus and Nicodemus immediately spoke up. It has been about a year and a half since his nightly encounter with Jesus (John 3:1) and even though he did not at this time disclose his belief in Jesus (perhaps because he felt it would discredit him and keep him from helping Jesus as best he could), this action of his took great courage. If it were you, what would you have done?

“this mob” the religious leaders of the day held great contempt for the common people, whom they called “the people of the earth”. Note the following statements:

“one of the people of the earth is one that has moral excellencies, but not intellectual ones; that is, there is in him common civility, but the law is not in him;” (Maimon. in Pirke Abot, c. 2. sect. 5. & c. 5. sect. 7.)

“they that are without knowledge are the multitude.” (Abarbinel in proph. post. fol. 473.)

The Pharisees believed that they could earn their salvation by obeying the Law and they had discerned 613 commandments in that Law to which they added all of the oral traditions which interpreted the scripture. All of this they tried to keep. “It is small wonder that ordinary, pious people, like the crowd of pilgrims, simply gave up the task. Their knowledge of the Bible could not be compared with that of the Pharisees. And because it could not, their practice could not be the same as that of these zealous exponents of the traditions. Inevitably then the crowds failed to comply with what the Pharisees thought of as necessary rules, and thus came under severe condemnation.” (Morris 433) They thus, in the eyes of the Pharisees, became “cursed” as Deut 27:26 states.

Deut 27:26  “Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Barclay states, “Their plea was: ‘Nobody who is spiritually and academically of any account has believed on this Jesus. Only ignorant fools accept him.’” And yet the real fools were not the common people at all, but the Pharisees. The reason for this is that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who consider themselves wise (1 Cor 1:21). Self-denial was difficult for the Pharisees and the rulers since they thought themselves to be their own gate into heaven because of their own righteousness which they had tried so hard to earn. With knowledge and self-righteousness come pride (1 Cor 8:1) and self-reliance and Jesus was teaching the exact opposite of these things (Mat 16:24). God requires of us that we forsake our always-insufficient righteousness and die to self so we can live in Him (1 Cor 1:26-29).

1 Cor 1:21  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

1 Cor 8:1  Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Mat 16:24  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

1 Cor 1:26-29  Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before him.

The Pharisees were religious, dedicated, knowledgeable, and self-reliant. Beware if you start falling into their trap. Barclay cautions that “It is indeed a terrible thing when a man thinks himself either too clever or too good to need Jesus Christ — and it can happen yet.”

The expected answer to this question is negative, but in reality and unknown to the Pharisees and rulers (Sadducees), was instead positive. Nicodemus and perhaps others were secretly followers of Jesus (Mat 9:18, John 4:46-47, 53, 12:42). This reaction of the Pharisees gives us insight into the reason Nicodemus came to Jesus at night (John 3:1-2). The Sadducees and Pharisees see their power slipping away from them; even their temple guards are beginning to disobey them. This combined with their pride produced their reaction.

Mat 9:18  While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”

John 4:46-47, 53  Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. . . .  Then the father realised that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.

Joh 12:42  Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

They wanted the people to follow them as they followed God, but they were blind guides. Be careful to not make other people the ones you follow. God gives them to you for your benefit, but you must follow Christ and to do that, you must listen to Him for yourself.

The chief priests would be expected to be the ones to reply to the answer of their servants, but the Pharisees are so disturbed by the response of the officers that they instead speak out.

“also” = the Pharisees thought the officers to now be deceived by Jesus just as they thought the crowd to be.

The officers were well aware of the danger they were in, but they did not resort to the many excuses they could have used such as “they could not find him, or could not come at him, because of the multitude about him, or that they were afraid of the people, lest they should rise upon them, and stone them, and rescue Jesus.” (TFG) These would have been somewhat truthful and would have softened the rebuke and disciplinary action they now faced for disobeying orders, but they instead told the plain truth, which must have taken a great deal of courage. They had been deeply impressed by Jesus and His words and they said so. The emphasis in the Greek is on the way Jesus spoke and not so much on what He said. Lenski states, “The authority, majesty, and power of the speaker restrained these officers.” Also remarkable is the fact that Jesus had the same effect on all of them.

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

The Levites who were the temple police sent out by the chief priests in verse #32 return without Jesus. As McGarvey points out, “The words suggest that the Sanhedrin was assembled and waiting for the return of the officers. An extraordinary proceeding for so great a day, but no more extraordinary than that assembly at the feast of the Passover which met and condemned Jesus six months later.” (TFG 449-450) The members of the Sanhedrin have apparently been waiting for the return of the officers with their captive so they can question him, and are stunned and very upset that their orders have not been carried out.

Why did no one lay a hand on Him? Probably the same reason as listed in (John 7:30). Nobody could do anything to Him (or to us, by the way) unless God allowed it. The rulers could order their guards to do things all day long, but to no avail unless God said “Yes” (Jer 10:23). Pilate thought he had the power (John 19:10), but Jesus set him straight on that (John 19:11). This is particularly good news for those who belong to God, for when God says He will do something for you, nothing can stop Him (Rom 8:31).

John 7:30  At this they tried to seize him, but no-one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

Jer 10:23  I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

John 19:10  “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realise I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

John 19:11  Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

Rom 8:31  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

“divided” = the words of Jesus in (Luke 12:51-52) are fulfilled.

Luke 12:51-52  Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.  From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.