Nicodemus And The Night

Hic venit ad Jesum nocte... Sed quaeritur hic primo de hoc quod dicitur, quod Nicodemus erat Princeps Judaeorum, et credebat in Jesum. Quia dicitur Joan septimo: Numquid aliquis ex Principibus credidit in eum? Quasi dicant: Non. Resp Dicendum,quod Nicodemus credidit,et erat ex Principibus. Et illud verbum, quod dicitur Joan septimo,fuit verbum Pharisaeorum,qui decepti fuerunt. Nicodemus enim credebat, etsi non palam, tamen occulte. Item quaeritur, cum hora illa fit hora malefactorum, quia qui male agit, odit lucem, unde est hoc, quod Nicodemus venire voluit nocte? Et videtur, quod inordinate venerit. Resp. Dicendum, quod in causa fuit verecundia, quaedam infimitas, et diligentia. De verecundia dicit Victor: Nocte venit; quia Magister in Israel palam dicere erubuit. De infirmitate Chrystostomus: Adhuc judaica detinebaur infirmitate; propterea et nocte venit, trepidans in die hoc facere. De diligentia dicit Beda: Nocte venit cupiens secreta allocutione mysteria fidei percipere, cujus jam aperta ostensione signorum aliquatenus rudimenta perceperat. Sanctus Bonaventura, Commentarius In Evangelium Ioannem, Caput III Source: Here, p278

He came to Jesus at night... 1 It should be asked first concerning this which is said, how it is that when Nicodemus was one of the leading men of the Jews he believed in Jesus. Because it is said in the seventh chapter of John, 'Do any of the leading men believe in him?' 2 As if it said: 'Not one.' It must be said in reply that Nicodemus did believe and he was one of the leading men, and what was said in the seventh chapter of John was the word of the Pharisees, who were deceived. For Nicodemus believed, even if not openly but in secret. Likewise it should be asked why Nicodemus wished to come at night, in that time of the hour of evil doers, because he who does evil hates the light? 3 It seems that he came irregularly. It must be said in reply that the cause of this was modesty and weakness and love. Concerning modesty Victor says: 'He came at night, because this teacher of Israel was ashamed to speak openly.' Concerning weakness Chrysostom says He was yet held back by Jewish weakness and so he came at night, fearing to do so in the day. Concerning love Bede says: 'He came in the night desiring a secret conversation about the mysteries of the faith, which in its rudiments he had already seen in the showing of signs.'4 Saint Bonaventura, Commentary On The Gospel Of Saint John, Chapter 3 1 Jn 3.2 2 Jn 7.48 3 cf Lk 22.53, Jn 3.20 4 Chrystostom Hom 24. Gosp John, Bede Hom XII In Octava Pentecostes