John 12:42
ESV
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;
NIV
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;
NASB
Nevertheless many, even of the rulers, believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, so that they would not be excommunicated from the synagogue;
CSB
Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue.
NLT
Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.
KJV
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
NKJV
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;
What does John 12:42 mean?
John uses the term "nevertheless" to note that his prior comments are not universal. The nation of Israel, on the whole, rejected Jesus as their Messiah (John 12:37–40). This was despite His many miracles, teachings, and the evidence of the Bible itself (John 5:31–47). That does not mean that every single person, without exception, chose to ignore the "signs" they were provided (John 20:30–31). Even among the religious leaders of Jerusalem, there were those who followed Christ's teachings to their logical conclusion.Scripture indicates that there were at least two such followers: Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38–39). Other passages indicate these men were willing to speak well of Jesus, or at least to be fair (John 7:50–51). Fear of losing their positions and the respect of their peers, however, kept them from speaking more boldly and honestly about their faith (John 9:22). This is a point made directly, and harshly, in the following verse (John 12:43).
