{Art thou also of Galilee?} (M(8820)kai su ek t(8873) Galilaias
ei;). Formally negative answer expected by m(885c), but really they
mean to imply that Nicodemus from local feeling or prejudice has
lined himself up with this Galilean mob (ochlos) of
sympathizers with Jesus and is like Jesus himself a Galilean.
"These aristocrats of Jerusalem had a scornful contempt for the
rural Galileans" (Bernard). {That out of Galilee ariseth no
prophet} (hoti ek t(8873) Galilaias proph(8874)(8873) ouk egeiretai). As a
matter of fact Jonah, Hosea, Nahum, possibly also Elijah, Elisha,
and Amos were from Galilee. It was simply the rage of the
Sanhedrin against Jesus regardless of the facts. Westcott
suggests that they may have reference to the future, but that is
a mere excuse for them.