John 7:48

“Have any of the rulers, etc.] In the sanhedrim, or of the synagogues; or the civil magistrates, the noble, rich, and wealthy: or of the Pharisees, believed on him; men famous for wisdom, learning, and holiness. It must be owned, there were but very few of this sort, and perhaps not an instance of this kind had as yet occurred to them; there was Nicodemus, who is mentioned in the context, who was both a ruler and a Pharisee; and Joseph of Arimathea, a rich counsellor; but they neither of them openly showed themselves to be the disciples of Christ till his death: and besides these, there were some women, as Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, Susanna, and some other women, who…”

“any of the rulers or . . . Pharisees believed--"Many of them" did, including Nicodemus and Joseph, but not one of these had openly "confessed Him" (Joh 12:42), and this appeal must have stung such of them as heard it to the quick.”

“The rulers - The members of the Sanhedrin, who were supposed to have control over the religious rites and doctrines of the nation. The Pharisees - The sect possessing wealth, and office, and power. The name Pharisees sometimes denotes those who were high in honor and authority. Believed on him - Is there any instance in which those who are high in rank or in office have embraced him as the Messiah? This shows the rule by which they judged of religion: They claimed the right of regulating the doctrines and rites of religion. They repressed the liberty of private judgment, stifled investigation, assumed that a new doctrine must be heresy, and labored to keep the people within inglorious…”

“Hath any of the rulers - Men of rank or eminence, or of the Pharisees - Men of learning or religion, believed on him? John 7:49”

“Joh 7:26, Joh 7:50, Joh 12:42; Jer 5:4, Jer 5:5; Mat 11:25; Act 6:7; Co1 1:20, Co1 1:22-28, Co1 2:8 John 7:49”