Nicodemus in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A ruler of the Jews, a master ("teacher") of Israel, and a Pharisee. John (John 3:1-10) alone mentions him. John knew the high priest (John 18:15), so his knowledge of Nicodemus among the high priest's associates is natural. John watched with deep interest his growth in grace, which is marked in three stages (Mark 4:26-29). (1) An anxious inquirer. The rich were ashamed to confess Jesus openly, in spite of convictions of the reality of His mission; so Joseph of Arimathea "a disciple, but secretly for fear of the Jews" (John 19:38). The poor "came" by day, but Nicodemus "by night." By an undesigned coincidence marking genuineness, Jesus' discourse is tinged, as was His custom (John 6:26-27; John 4:7-14; John 4:35), with a coloring drawn from the incidents of the moment: cf6 "this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light", etc.; cf6 "every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light ... but he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God" (John 3:19-21). Nicodemus was now a timid but candid inquirer; sincere so far as his belief extended. Fear of man holds back many from decision for Christ (John 7:13; John 9:22; John 12:42-43; John 5:44; Proverbs 29:25; contrast Isaiah 51:7-8; Isaiah 66:5; Acts 5:41).