Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: John 11:47 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Joh 11:47 |
King James |
Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
What do we? for this man doeth many miracles--"While we trifle, 'this man,' by His 'many miracles,' will carry all before Him; the popular enthusiasm will bring on a revolution, which will precipitate the Romans upon us, and our all will go down in one common ruin." What a testimony to the reality of our Lord's miracles, and their resistless effect, from His bitterest enemies! |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
A council - A meeting of the Sanhedrin, or Great Council of the nation. See the notes at Mat 2:4. They claimed the right of regulating all the affairs of religion. See the notes at Joh 1:19.
What do we? - What measures are we taking to arrest the progress of his sentiments?
For this man doeth many miracles - If they admitted that he performed miracles, it was clear what they ought to do. They should have received him as the Messiah. It may be asked, If they really believed that he worked miracles, why did they not believe on him? To this it may be replied that they did not doubt that impostors might work miracles. See Mat 24:24. To this opinion they were led, probably, by the wonders which the magicians performed in Egypt Exo. 7; 8, and by the passage in Deu 13:1. As they regarded the tendency of the doctrines of Jesus to draw off the people from the worship of God, and from keeping his law Joh 9:16, they did not suppose themselves bound to follow him, even if he did work miracles. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
The chief priests
Of the Sadducean party. This should be constantly kept in mind in reading both John's narrative and that of the Synoptists. The Sadducees, represented by the chief priests, are the leaders in the more decisive measures against Christ. Throughout this Gospel the form of expression is either the chief priests alone, or the chief priests and the Pharisees. The only mention of the Pharisees in the history of the passion is Mat 27:62, where also the expression is the chief priests and Pharisees. The chief priests are the deadly enemies of Christ (Mat 26:3,Mat 26:14). Similarly, in the Acts, the opposition to the Christians is headed by the priests and Sadducees, who represent the same party. In the two instances where the Pharisees appear, they incline to favor the Christians (Act 5:34; Act 23:6).
A council (συνέδριον)
Correctly, and not the council, which would require the article. The meaning is, they called a sitting of the Sanhedrim; probably as distinguished from a formal meeting of that body.
What do we?
The present tense, indicating an emergency. This man is at work teaching and working miracles, and what are we doing? |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
What do we? - What? Believe. Yea, but death yields to the power of Christ sooner than infidelity. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council - The Pharisees, as such, had no power to assemble councils; and therefore only those are meant who were scribes or elders of the people, in conjunction with Annas and his son-in-law Caiaphas, who were the high priests here mentioned. See Joh 18:13, Joh 18:24.
What do we? - This last miracle was so clear, plain, and incontestable, that they were driven now to their wit's end. Their own spies had come and borne testimony of it. They told them what they had seen, and on their word, as being in league with themselves against Jesus, they could confidently rely. |
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.