I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
Jesus opens with “verily, verily” again for emphasis, but this time the focus of the message is different.
“We speak of what we know” means “We know what we are talking about.” (Goodspeed) Jesus has been telling Nicodemus things of which He has personal knowledge; they are not opinions which are open to debate, they are objective facts based upon the knowledge and witness of One Who has been there. Seeing and knowing were qualifications for a witness in the Old Testament (Lev 5:1).
Lev 5:1 “‘If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible.
Jesus uses the plural “we” for some reason. He could be talking about Himself and:
- the Father
- the disciples
- other witnesses
- John the Baptist
- the prophets
The “you” who do not receive His message is plural; He is not talking just to Nicodemus, but to all the Jews.