John 11:47

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "What can we do?" they asked. "This man is doing many miraculous 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 Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary saw what Jesus did. So they put their faith in him.

46 But some of them went to the Pharisees. They told the Pharisees what Jesus had done.

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "What can we do?" they asked. "This man is doing many miraculous signs.

48 If we let him keep on doing this, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come. They will take away our temple and our nation."

49 One of them spoke up. His name was Caiaphas. He was high priest at that time. He said, "You don't know anything at all!