King James Bible
"The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
Nicodemus approaches Jesus under cover of darkness, suggesting either fear of his fellow Pharisees' judgment or a desire for private, uninterrupted dialogue. The nighttime setting becomes symbolically significant in John's Gospel, where darkness often represents spiritual ignorance seeking enlightenment. Nicodemus addresses Jesus with the respectful title 'Rabbi' and speaks in plural ('we know'), indicating he represents others among the religious leaders who recognize Jesus's divine authorization. This acknowledgment from a Pharisee validates Jesus's teaching authority while revealing divisions within the Jewish leadership. Nicodemus grounds his conclusion in empirical evidence—the miraculous signs Jesus performs serve as divine credentials. His logic reflects Jewish understanding that authentic miracles require God's power, yet his statement stops short of recognizing Jesus's full identity as the Son of God.