John 11:47

47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs!

John 11:47 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:47

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a
council
They convened the sanhedrim, the great council of the nation together, of which they were some of the principal members:

and said, what do we?
that is, why is nothing done? why are we so dilatory? why do we sit still, and do nothing? or what is to be done? this now lies before us, this is to be considered and deliberated on:

for this man doth many miracles;
this is owned, and could not be denied by them; and should have been a reason why they should have acknowledged him to have been the Messiah, and embraced him; whereas they used it as a reason, why they should think of, and concert some measures, to hinder and put a stop to the belief of him as such.

John 11:47 In-Context

45 Then many of the Jews who had come with Mary and saw [the things] which he did believed in him.

46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them [the things] which Jesus had done.

47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs!

48 If we allow him [to go on] in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas (who was high priest in that year), said to them, "You do not know anything at all!