John 11:48

48 If we let him continue what he's doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our 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 to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council. They asked, "What are we doing? This man is performing a lot of miracles.

48 If we let him continue what he's doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation."

49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year, told them, "You people don't know anything.

50 You haven't even considered this: It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed."