John 12:42

OLBGrk;

Though the Pharisees made up a great part of the sanhedrim, yet there were divers others also mixed with them, amongst which there were many of a better temper; and it may be arcontwn here may not signify members of that court, but principal men in the magistracy. We must not understand by believed, that they believed with a saving faith; what follows will evidence the contrary; but they had some convictions upon them as to the truth of what he said, and his being the true Messias; but they durst not openly declare what themselves thought, nor publicly own and aver Christ to be what he indeed was, and they were inclinable to think he was, lest the Pharisees, who were Christ's most implacable enemies, should have put the decree they had made (of which we read, 1 Thessalonians 9:22) in execution upon them.