“Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?”
King James Version (KJV)
7:48 Hath any of the rulers - Men of rank or eminence, or of the Pharisees - Men of learning or religion, believed on him?
Joh 7:48 Have any of the rulers . . . believed on him? By rulers are meant the Sanhedrin. In the matter of deciding on the claims of the Messiah they hold that the judgment of the "rulers" must be decisive. They were not probably aware that Nicodemus was really a secret believer, and that another "senator", Joseph, would reveal himself at the proper time.