John 3:2

John probably would not have mentioned that Nicodemus called on Jesus at night if that fact was insignificant. Probably the prominent Pharisee made his call at night to keep his visit private and uninterrupted (cf. John 19:39). The Pharisees generally were antagonistic toward Jesus, and he apparently wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict with his brethren. Nighttime probably promised a greater chance for uninterrupted conversation as well. Whenever else John referred to night in his Gospel the word has moral and spiritual connotations of darkness (cf. John 9:4; John 11:10; John 13:30). Nicodemus was in spiritual and intellectual darkness as well as natural darkness when he came to Jesus (cf. John 3:10). [Note: E. W. Hengstenberg, Commentary on the Gospel of John , 1:157-58; R. H. Lightfoot, St. John’s Gospel: A Commentary, p. 116.]

Nicodemus addressed Jesus as "Rabbi," a respectful title that recognized Him as a teacher. One rabbi was coming to another for discussion. However, this title also indicated the extent of this man’s faith. He did not address Jesus as the Messiah or the Son of God or his Lord. Moreover he expressed belief that Jesus had come from God, in contrast to Satan (cf. John 8:48; John 8:52), in view of the miracles that He was performing (cf. John 2:23; John 20:30; John 21:24-25). This suggests that Nicodemus may have wanted to determine if Jesus was a prophet as well as a teacher. To the Jews of Jesus’ day, no unusual teaching would have been acceptable without the evidence of miracles. [Note: Edersheim, 1:380.]

"We" could be a way of saying himself (cf. John 3:11). Alternatively Nicodemus could have been representing others on the Sanhedrin beside himself such as Joseph of Arimathea (cf. John 19:38). Note Nicodemus’ courtesy and lack of hostility. These qualities mark him as a non-typical Pharisee.