John 11:57

57 (Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, they should report [it], in order that they could arrest him.)

John 11:57 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:57

Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees
Who were of the sanhedrim:

had given a commandment;
or published an edict, a decree of the senate:

that if any man knew where he were, he should show [it], that they
might take him;
and this made it a doubtful point with some, whether he would come to the feast or not; and was the reason why others sought for him, and inquired after him, that they might discover him to the chief priests and Pharisees, and have the promised reward.

John 11:57 In-Context

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the [surrounding] country before the Passover, so that they could purify themselves.

56 So they were looking for Jesus, and were speaking with one another [while] standing in the temple [courts], "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"

57 (Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, they should report [it], in order that they could arrest him.)

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation