Look! He is talking in public, and they say nothing against him! Can it be that they really know that he is the Messiah?

One of the Pharisees there was Nicodemus, the man who had gone to see Jesus before. He said to the others,

Even then, many Jewish authorities believed in Jesus; but because of the Pharisees they did not talk about it openly, so as not to be expelled from the synagogue.

Then I thought, "These are only the poor and ignorant. They behave foolishly; they don't know what their God requires, what the LORD wants them to do.

I will go to the people in power and talk with them. Surely they know what their God requires, what the LORD wants them to do." But all of them have rejected the LORD's authority and refuse to obey him.

At that time Jesus said, "Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned.

And so the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew larger and larger, and a great number of priests accepted the faith.

So then, where does that leave the wise? or the scholars? or the skillful debaters of this world? God has shown that this world's wisdom is foolishness!

Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom.

but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Now remember what you were, my friends, when God called you. From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing.

He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.

None of the rulers of this world knew this wisdom. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.