Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 3:11

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness." — John 3:11 (ASV)

No doubt Nicodemus thought Jesus to be presumptuous when he said, “We speak of what we know.” Jesus spoke with an air of authority (see comment on Mk 1:22). Jesus’ use of “we” is unusual. Perhaps his disciples were present and he was including them. Or Jesus may have been speaking as the earthly representative of the godhead. Throughout the years God’s “people” had rejected his instruction as ministered through the prophets and the Scriptures. And things were no different now.