Bible people
Who Was Nicodemus in the Bible?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council who came to Jesus under cover of night — a short encounter that produced two of the most quoted lines in the New Testament.
Where his story appears
Nicodemus appears only in John's Gospel, three times: John 3:1-21, John 7:50-51, and John 19:39-40.
What happened
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:3
Nicodemus hears it literally — “How can someone be born when they are old?” — and Jesus clarifies that he means a spiritual birth.
The conversation continues into John 3:16, one of the most quoted verses in Scripture, which sits inside this private night-time exchange rather than a public sermon.
Nicodemus reappears at a council meeting, arguing that the law requires hearing a man before judging him (John 7:50-51) — a small act of resistance from inside the institution. After the crucifixion, he brings roughly seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes to help Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus, a quantity associated with royal burials.
Why he's still discussed today
Nicodemus is often read as a portrait of gradual faith: a cautious start in the dark, a hesitant public defense, and finally a costly, visible act at the tomb. For anyone whose belief has arrived slowly rather than all at once, he's frequently the figure people point to.
Related: what John 3:16 actually means.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Nicodemus in the Bible?
A Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council who came to Jesus at night to question him (John 3). Their conversation produced the phrase "born again" and the verse John 3:16.
Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus at night?
The text doesn't say directly. The most common readings are caution — he was a public religious leader with a reputation at risk — or John's use of night and light as a recurring theme throughout the Gospel.
What does "born again" mean in John 3?
Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God without being "born again" (or "born from above"). Nicodemus takes it literally; Jesus clarifies he means a spiritual birth, of water and the Spirit.
What happened to Nicodemus later?
He appears twice more in John: defending due process for Jesus before the council (John 7:50-51) and helping Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus with about seventy-five pounds of spices (John 19:39-40).
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