John 11:47

47 The chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man does 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 to Mary and saw what he had done, believed on him;

46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

47 The chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man does many signs.

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

49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, Ye know nothing