John 7:47-48

The Pharisaic leaders implied that the officers were ignorant, that none of the real thinkers and leaders in the nation had accepted Jesus. The rulers were the Sanhedrin members, and the Pharisees were the official teachers. They implied that all the leaders without exception believed that Jesus was a deceiver, but that was not true. Already Nicodemus had privately voiced his belief that Jesus was a teacher who had come from God (John 3:2), and many others of the leaders believed in Jesus (cf. John 12:42). This was a clear case of intimidation. Again John’s irony is apparent. The proudly wise were clearly the fools (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31).