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William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 11:47-53

11:47-53 The chief priests and Pharisees assembled the Sanhedrin: "What are we going to do?" they said, "because this man does many signs. If we leave him alone like this, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and will take away our place and will destroy our nation." One of them, called Caiaphas, who was High Priest for that year, said to them: "You are witless creatures. You do not think it out that it is to our good that one man should die for the people, rather than that the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:50

Nor consider that it is expedient for us ,.... Priests, Levites, Pharisees, the sanhedrim, and ecclesiastical rulers of the people; who, as Caiaphas apprehended, must suffer in their characters and revenues, must quit their honourable and gainful posts and places, if Jesus went on and succeeded at this rate: wherefore it was most expedient and advantageous for them, which was the main thing to be considered in such a council, so he thought it was, that one man should die for the people,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:50

Nor consider - Ye talk more at random than according to reason, and the exigencies of the case. There is a various reading here in some MSS. that should be noticed. Instead of ουδε διαλογιζεσθε , which we translate, ye do not consider, and which properly conveys the idea of conferring, or talking together, ουδε λογιζεσθε , neither do ye reason or consider rightly, is the reading of ABDL, three others, and some of the primitive fathers. Griesbach, by placing it in his inner margin, shows... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:1-57

7. Christ the Antagonist of death—a victory of love and power . The narrative of this chapter is a further advance in the proof that the unbelief of the Jews was aggravated by the greatness of the revelation. The issue of his sublime and culminating act of power, of his supreme and self-revealing work of transcendent tenderness and beauty, was a deeper and wilder passion of hatred. The evangelist completes his series of seven great miracles with one that in true and believing minds,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:45-57

(4) The effect of the miracle (sign) upon the multitude and on the authorities . Their final resolve , and its bearing upon the great sacrifice of Calvary . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:46-53

Mistaken patriotism. I. THE FUNDAMENTAL MISAPPREHENSION . We must understand clearly the great and fundamental error that underlay all the animosity of the Pharisees and priests towards Jesus. To understand that error makes their relentless pursuit of Jesus more explicable. Jesus talked much of a kingdom, and what should the Pharisees take that to mean unless a visible kingdom—a kingdom the establishment of which must be contested and prevented by the Roman empire, tolerant, of no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:48-53

The decision of the Sanhedrin. The miracle at Bethany had still more momentous effects . I. THE MEETING OF THE SANHEDRIN . "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What are we doing? for this Man doeth many miracles." 1. It was a conjunction of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, for the chief priests belonged to the Sadducean faction. A common danger engaged them in a common cause. 2. They frankly admitted, not only the Bethany... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:49-52

The counsel of Caiaphas. We have here recorded the witness of the earthly to the heavenly High Priest, of human guile to superhuman innocence and goodness, of worldly policy to disinterested benevolence; of personal, selfish ambition to Divine and ardent love. The Sanhedrin as a whole had testified to the reality of our Lord's miracles; Caiaphas here testified to the sacrificial offering and the world-wide mediation of Christ. And it may be noted that, not long after, Pilate bore witness... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:50

Nor £ consider ; or, nor do ye take account . Hengstenberg shows that where this verb ( λογίζεσθε ) elsewhere occurs, it is used intransitively, and with this Godet agrees; then they take ὅτι , as "because" or for it is expedient for you (the text ὑμῖν is preferred by Meyer, Godet, Westcott and Herr, and the Revised. The chief difference in thought is that it makes the language somewhat more dogmatic, Caiaphas hardly classing himself for the moment with such irresolute... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 11:50

It is expedient for us - It is better for us. Literally, “It is profitable for us.”That one man should die - Jesus they regarded as promoting sedition, and as exposing the nation, if he was successful, to the vengeance of the Romans, John 11:48. If he was put to death they supposed the people would be safe. This is all, doubtless, that he meant by his dying for the people. He did not himself intend to speak of his dying as an atonement or a sacrifice; but his words might also express that, and,... read more

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