John 3:1

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

Ver. 1. A ruler of the Jews ] Either a chieftain of the Pharisees, as he was, Luke 14:1 ; or one of the Sanhedrim, one of the 70 seniors, whose learning hung in their light, 1 Corinthians 2:8 . Yet was neither learned Nathanael, nor Nicodemus, a master of Israel, excluded from Christ’s discipline (saith Joan. de Turrecremata), lest if he had admitted simple men only, it might have been thought they were deceived through their simplicity. a

a Ne si solos simplices vocasset, credi possit quod fuissent ex simplicitate decepti.