John 11:48

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe in him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation."

John 11:48 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:48

If we let him thus alone
Going about from place to place, teaching the people, and doing such miracles:

all men will believe on him;
the whole nation will receive him as the Messiah, and proclaim him their king, and yield a cheerful obedience to all his commands:

the Romans will come;
against us, with their powerful armies; interpreting the setting him up as Messiah, to be an instance of rebellion against Caesar, and his government:

and take away both our place and nation;
that is, will destroy the temple, their holy place, the place of their religion and worship; and their city, the place of their habitation, and lay waste their country; and take away from them that little share of power and government they had, and strip them both of their civil and religious privileges: the Persic version renders it, "they will take away our place, and make a decree against our religion".

John 11:48 In-Context

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council and said, "What shall we do? For this man doeth many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe in him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation."

49 And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, "Ye know nothing at all,

50 nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not."