John 7:48 kjv
Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
John 7:48 nkjv
Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?
John 7:48 niv
"Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?
John 7:48 esv
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
John 7:48 nlt
"Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?
John 7 48 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 3:1-2 | There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler... he came to Jesus by night. | Nicodemus, a ruler/Pharisee, did believe (secretly). |
| Jn 12:42-43 | Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in him... but they did not confess him... | Many rulers believed but feared confessing. |
| Jn 9:16 | ...Some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God... Others said, "How can a man...do such signs?" | Division among the Pharisees about Jesus. |
| Jn 9:22 | ...whoever confessed that He was Christ would be put out of the synagogue. | Fear of consequences for confessing Jesus. |
| Jn 9:34 | They answered... "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. | Religious authorities reject simple belief. |
| Jn 10:19-21 | Again there was a division among the Jews because of these words... | Jesus consistently causes division. |
| Jn 1:11 | He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. | General rejection of Jesus by His people. |
| Lk 7:30 | But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves... | Pharisees reject God's plan and message. |
| Lk 11:52 | "Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge..." | Leaders withholding truth and knowledge. |
| Lk 18:9 | Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others... | Pride of religious elite. |
| Mk 7:6-7 | "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me..." | Superficial piety vs. true faith. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. | Divine wisdom vs. human reasoning. |
| Psa 118:22 | The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. | Leaders reject the Messiah, whom God exalts. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-28 | Not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called... | God chooses the humble, not the elite. |
| 1 Cor 2:6-8 | ...None of the rulers of this age understood... they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. | Rulers lacked true understanding of God's plan. |
| Rom 10:3 | For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness... | Self-righteousness hinders belief. |
| Php 3:4-9 | ...If anyone else thinks he has reasons for confidence in the flesh, I have more... But whatever gain I had, I counted loss for Christ. | Pride in human achievements versus faith in Christ. |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men." | Obedience to God over human authority. |
| Jas 3:13-17 | Who is wise and understanding among you?... the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable... | Earthly wisdom (with bitterness) vs. heavenly wisdom. |
| Mt 11:25 | ...You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. | Truth revealed to humble hearts, not proud intellectuals. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom... but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me... | True glory is knowing God, not human status. |
John 7 verses
John 7 48 Meaning
John 7:48 conveys a rhetorical question posed by the leading Jewish religious authorities, likely the chief priests and Pharisees, implying that none of the esteemed and learned rulers or Pharisees have believed in Jesus. This question serves as an arrogant and scornful dismissal of Jesus's claims and of those who do believe in Him, suggesting that only ignorant common people would fall prey to His teachings, thus trying to undermine His credibility.
John 7 48 Context
John chapter 7 recounts Jesus's visit to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles, a major Jewish festival. There is intense debate and division among the crowds regarding His identity—some believe Him to be the Christ, while others doubt or outright reject Him, viewing Him as a deceiver. The Jewish religious leaders, particularly the chief priests and Pharisees, are openly hostile towards Jesus, seeking to arrest Him (Jn 7:32). They dispatch temple guards to apprehend Him. However, the guards return without Jesus, astonished by His compelling teaching ("No man ever spoke like this Man!" - Jn 7:46). John 7:48 is part of the exasperated and scornful reaction of these religious authorities to their failed attempt to arrest Jesus, addressing the guards and reinforcing their contempt for Jesus by highlighting that no respected leader endorses Him. This immediately precedes the intervention of Nicodemus (Jn 7:50-51), who reminds them of due process. The historical and cultural context underscores the immense power and prestige held by "the rulers" (Sanhedrin members) and "Pharisees." Their approval was paramount for social and religious acceptance, and their lack of belief was considered conclusive proof of Jesus's illegitimacy by many. Their polemic here is against any popular movement not sanctioned by their authority and against a prophet who challenged their interpretations of the Law.
John 7 48 Word analysis
- Have any: Implies an expectation of a negative answer. The interrogative is rhetorical, designed to assert a foregone conclusion.
- of the rulers (τῶν ἀρχόντων - tōn archontōn): Refers to members of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and religious council, and other influential civic leaders. These were the educated, aristocratic, and powerful figures who governed Jewish life under Roman oversight. Their endorsement was seen as validation; their rejection as condemnation.
- or of the Pharisees (ἢ τῶν Φαρισαίων - ē tōn Pharisaiōn): The Pharisees were a dominant religious sect known for their strict adherence to the Law and oral traditions. They were intellectual and influential spiritual guides for the populace, embodying religious orthodoxy and scholarship. The question intentionally lists both the political elite ("rulers") and the religious-scholarly elite ("Pharisees") to cover the spectrum of respected authority figures.
- believed (πεπίστευκεν - pepisteuken): Perfect active indicative form of "pistevō" (to believe, trust, have faith). The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with continuing results – have any of them come to believe and remained believing? It signifies a firm, settled conviction rather than a fleeting thought. The implication is that a true prophet would win over such esteemed individuals.
- in him: Refers to Jesus. This is the crux of the matter: have these influential, respected, and educated people given their allegiance and trust to Jesus? The speaker assumes they have not and uses this assumption as a weapon against Jesus's perceived authority. The entire statement functions as a declaration that only "uninformed" people would believe.
John 7 48 Bonus section
The rhetorical nature of John 7:48 serves not only as a put-down of Jesus but also as an attempt to reassert the leaders' crumbling authority over the common people. By suggesting that "none of the rulers or Pharisees" believed, they aim to dissuade any burgeoning faith among the populace. This reflects their deep fear of losing control, as Jesus's growing popularity threatened their established order. The question, however, ironically points to the humility and spiritual insight of those common people who, unlike the elite, were open to Jesus's message, fulfilling scriptural patterns where God often works through the humble to confound the wise (1 Cor 1:26-29). The chapter subtly prepares the reader for the eventual "secret disciples" like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-39) who indeed were rulers and Pharisees, proving the statement in 7:48 to be a false generalisation even within the immediate narrative.
John 7 48 Commentary
John 7:48 reveals the deep-seated prejudice and spiritual blindness of the Jewish religious leadership against Jesus. Their question is a contemptuous rhetorical device, not a genuine inquiry, demonstrating their elitist worldview that truth must be endorsed by the powerful and learned. They valued their own authority and intellectual discernment above spiritual discernment, assuming that Jesus's message held no merit simply because they, the 'wise' and 'righteous,' had not embraced it. This verse underscores the tragic irony that those most equipped in earthly terms to recognize the Messiah (through their knowledge of the Law and prophets) were the very ones who most fiercely rejected Him, while simple people, unburdened by self-righteousness or vested interests, recognized His divine authority. It highlights the principle that God often hides His truths from the proud and reveals them to the humble.
- Example: A renowned expert in a field rejects a groundbreaking innovation developed by an unknown individual, citing that "no one credible" (i.e., someone like them) has endorsed it, thus dismissing its validity regardless of evidence.
- Example: When people disregard a truth simply because the messengers are not "popular" or "influential" by worldly standards, failing to discern the truth based on its own merit.