Matthew Poole and continuators on John 3:2

2 The same came unto Jesus by night , and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God : for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him .

He came by night to Christ, not as some (too charitably) possibly may think, that he might have the freer and less interrupted Communion and Discourse with him; but either through fear, or possibly shame, (being a Master in Israel) to be lookt upon as a Scholar going to learn of another.

He saluteth him by the Name they usually gave to their Teachers, (as we shewed in the foregoing Chapter, v. 49. and saith, we know, by which he hinteth to us, that not onely he, but others of the Pharisees also knew that he was a Teacher sent from God in a more extraordinary manner;

and he giveth the reason of this their Knowledg, because of those miraculous Operations which he had wrought. God hath his number among all orders and sorts of men; and those that are his, shall come unto Christ▪ there was a weakness in the Faith and Love of this Nicodemus; (his Station amongst the Iews was a great Temptation to him,) but yet there was a truth of both in him, which further discovered it self, Ioh. 7.50. and more upon Christs death, chap. 19.39. But here ariseth a greater question, viz. How Nicodemus could conclude that Christ was a teacher sent from God, by his Miracles? Ans. It is to be observed, that he doth not say in the general, that no man does Signs or Wonders of any kind, unless the Power and Favour of God be with him. But he speaks particularly and eminently of those things which Jesus did; they were so great in their nature, so real and solid in their proof, so divine in the manner of performing them by the Empire of his Will; so holy in their end, to confirm a Doctrine most becoming the Wisdom and other glorious Attributes of God, and that were the verification of the Prophecies concerning the Messiah, whose coming was foretold should be with miraculous healing benefits; that there was the greatest assurance, that none without the Omnipotent hand of God could do them; for 'tis clear by the light of Reason and Scripture, that God will not assist by his Almighty Power the Ministers of Satan, to induce those who sincerely search for Truth to believe a Lye. The Magicians indeed performed divers Wonders in Egypt, but they were outdone by Moses, to convince the Spectators, that he was sent from a Power infinitely Superior to that of evil Spirits. Real Miracles that are contrary to the order, and exceed the Power of Nature, can onely be produced by creating Power, and are wrought to give credit to those who are sent from God. And when God permits false Miracles to be done by Seducers, that would thereby obtain Authority and Credit amongst men, the deception is not invincible; for 'tis foretold expresly, to give us warning, That the man of sin shall come with lying Wonders, by the working of Satan, 2 Thes. 2.9. and the heavenly Doctrine of the Gospel has been confirmed by real Miracles, incomparably greater than all the strange things done to give credit to Doctrines opposite to it.

Marginal references: Chap. 9.16, 33.; Acts 10.38.