John 11:47

47 the chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees, gathered together a sanhedrim, and said, `What may we do? because this man doth 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 Many, therefore, of the Jews who came unto Mary, and beheld what Jesus did, believed in him;

46 but certain of them went away unto the Pharisees, and told them what Jesus did;

47 the chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees, gathered together a sanhedrim, and said, `What may we do? because this man doth many signs?

48 if we may let him alone thus, all will believe in him; and the Romans will come, and will take away both our place and nation.'

49 and a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being chief priest of that year, said to them, `Ye have not known anything,