Chaerephon
was both a friend and close follower of Socrates.
Politically, he was a supporter of Athenian democracy and, as a result, suffered
persecution when the democracy was temporarily deposed after the defeat of
Athens at the hands of Sparta. By the time of
Socrates' trial Chaerephon was no longer living.
Given that Plato and
Xenophon both report the story of the Delphic
oracle's pronouncement and that many at the trial would have known if
the story wasn't true we have little reason to doubt it. All of this of course
sets the stage for Socrates' irony. He denies
he is wise but it is quite obvious he "knows" much more than most folks!
How is all this to be reconciled? Socrates is
wise only in the sense that he fully understands the limits of his
"knowledge."