Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Nicodemus ... means innocent blood, or victor over the people,[1] depending upon whether the name is Greek or Hebrew.  He was a wealthy Pharisee, member of the Sanhedrin, teacher of theology, and known as a "ruler of the Jews," a title reserved in Rabbinic literature "for a great man, or a prince."[2]  For an article on the Pharisees, see my Commentary on Matthew,  Matthew 3:7.