John 11 47

John 11:47 kjv

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

John 11:47 nkjv

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

John 11:47 niv

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many signs.

John 11:47 esv

So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.

John 11:47 nlt

Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. "What are we going to do?" they asked each other. "This man certainly performs many miraculous signs.

John 11 verses

John 11 47 Meaning

John 11:47 describes the reaction of the Jewish religious leadership—the chief priests and the Pharisees—to the overwhelming evidence of Jesus' miraculous signs, specifically the resurrection of Lazarus. Confronted with undeniable proof of Jesus' power, they did not consider faith but instead convened their highest council, the Sanhedrin, to urgently devise a strategy to neutralize Jesus, acknowledging His signs as a problem that demanded action, rather than accepting them as a manifestation of divine authority. Their question, "What shall we do?" reveals their deep-seated fear concerning their power and potential Roman repercussions, viewing Jesus as a threat to their established order.

John 11 47 Context

John chapter 11 opens with the sickness and death of Lazarus of Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, and a dear friend of Jesus. Jesus' deliberate delay in arriving and His subsequent, highly public resurrection of Lazarus—four days after his death and decay had begun—is the immediate catalyst for the council meeting in verse 47. This miracle was performed in the presence of many witnesses, including Martha, Mary, and a crowd of Jews who had come to mourn with them. Many who saw this sign believed in Jesus (Jn 11:45). This undeniable act, perhaps the greatest of Jesus' miracles, presented an existential crisis to the Jewish leadership. Their concern was not theological truth but political expediency and the preservation of their authority under Roman occupation. Any large, popular movement around a potential "King of the Jews" could provoke Roman intervention, which would jeopardize their positions and the relative autonomy of Judea.

Word Analysis

• Then (Οὖν - Oun): Greek conjunctive, "Therefore," or "So." It indicates a consequence, directly linking the council's meeting and discussion to the preceding event: the resurrection of Lazarus, which dramatically increased Jesus' following and undeniable power.

• the chief priests (οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς - hoi archiereis): The leaders of the priestly class, primarily Sadducees. They held significant political and economic power, controlling the Temple. Their primary concern was maintaining the status quo with Rome and preserving their own privileged positions.

• and the Pharisees (καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι - kai hoi Pharisaioi): A prominent religious sect emphasizing strict adherence to the Law and oral traditions. While often opposed to the Sadducees in theological matters, they united with them in their opposition to Jesus, viewing Him as a threat to their religious authority and interpretations.

• gathered (συνήγαγον - synēgagon): "Assembled," "convened." This implies a formal act of bringing together individuals, indicating the serious nature of the situation.

• a council (συνέδριον - synedrion): The Sanhedrin, the supreme judicial and legislative body of the Jewish people. This gathering represented the highest Jewish authority addressing an issue of national importance.

• and said (καὶ ἔλεγον - kai elegon): "They were saying" (imperfect tense in Greek). Indicates a discussion was taking place, a continuous act of expressing concern and deliberation.

• What shall we do? (Τί ποιοῦμεν - Ti poioumen): Literally, "What are we doing?" or "What should we do?" A question revealing a crisis. It signifies perplexity, urgency, and a perceived necessity to act decisively regarding Jesus. It implies they had exhausted other means or that the situation had escalated beyond their previous efforts.

• For (ὅτι - hoti): A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "that." It introduces the reason for their meeting and their anxious question.

• this Man (οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος - houtos ho anthrōpos): "This man." A dismissive and dehumanizing reference to Jesus. They refuse to use His name, reducing Him to a mere human problem that needs to be managed, rather than recognizing any divine claims or Messianic significance.

• works (ποιεῖ - poiei): "Does," "performs," "makes." A simple, active verb stating an undeniable fact of Jesus' actions.

• many signs (πολλὰ σημεῖα - polla sēmeia):

  • πολλὰ (polla): "Many." Emphasizes the cumulative and extensive nature of Jesus' miracles, signifying the undeniable scale of His activity and influence.
  • σημεῖα (sēmeia): "Signs." In John's Gospel, these are not just wondrous deeds but revelatory acts pointing to Jesus' identity as the Son of God (Jn 2:11; 20:30-31). The religious leaders recognize the objective fact of the miracles but reject their true theological significance.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council": This highlights the extraordinary nature of their alliance. These two typically adversarial groups uniting in council demonstrates the extreme threat they felt Jesus posed, compelling them to set aside their differences.
  • "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs": This stark juxtaposition reveals their spiritual blindness and perversion of truth. They acknowledge the power and frequency of Jesus' divine actions (the signs) but interpret them not as evidence of His identity as the Messiah but as a reason to eliminate Him, driven by self-preservation and political fear rather than a pursuit of God's will.

John 11 47 Commentary

John 11:47 is a pivotal verse that encapsulates the leadership's tragic response to God's revelation in Jesus. The resurrection of Lazarus was not merely a miracle; it was an incontrovertible sign witnessed by many, pushing the religious authorities to a point of decision. Rather than yielding to the compelling evidence that Jesus was indeed the Christ, they reacted with fear, self-interest, and hardened hearts. Their alliance and convening of the Sanhedrin underscores the severity with which they viewed Jesus' growing popularity, driven by the miracles. They articulated the truth ("this Man works many signs") but interpreted it as a problem requiring suppression rather than a truth demanding belief and submission. This verse foreshadows their ultimate decision to condemn Jesus, motivated by a desperate attempt to maintain their earthly power and privilege, fearing Roman retribution more than God's judgment.

Bonus SectionThe phrase "What shall we do?" spoken by the chief priests and Pharisees, stands in stark contrast to the same question posed by the repentant crowd in Acts 2:37 after Peter's sermon, and by the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:30. In those instances, the question signifies conviction of sin and a search for salvation ("What must we do to be saved?"). Here, in John 11:47, it represents a counsel of malice and a search for a method to destroy the one who worked "many signs," displaying a profound and active rebellion against the light of truth. This moment solidifies their deliberate rejection of God's appointed Messiah, leading directly to the events of Jesus' passion.