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John 11:47

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Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.

Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brownv. 47

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!

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Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 47

In this chapter we have the history of that illustrious miracle which Christ wrought a little before his death - the raising of Lazarus to life, which is recorded only by this evangelist; for the other three confine themselves to what Christ did in Galilee, where he resided most, and scarcely ever carried their history into Jerusalem till the passion-week: whereas John's memoirs relate chiefly to what passed at Jerusalem; this passage therefore was reserved for his pen. Some suggest that, when the other evangelists wrote, Lazarus was alive, and it would not well agree either with his safety or with his humility to have it recorded till now, when it is supposed he was dead. It is more largely recorded than any other of Christ's miracles, not only because there are many circumstances of it so very instructive and the miracle of itself so great a proof of Christ's mission, but because it was an earnest of that which was to be the crowning proof of all - Christ's own resurrection. Here is, I. The tidings sent to our Lord Jesus of the sickness of Lazarus, and his entertainment of those tidings (v. 1-16). II. The visit he made to Lazarus's relations when he had heard of his death, and their entertainment of the visit (v. 17-32). III. The miracle wrought in the raising of Lazarus from the dead (Joh 11:33-44). IV. The effect wrought by this miracle upon others (Joh 11:45-57).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 47

οὖν (oûn, G3767) — (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly συνάγω (synágō, G4863) — to lead together, i.e. collect or convene; specially, to entertain (hospitably) ἀρχιερεύς (archiereús, G749) — the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… Φαρισαῖος (Pharisaîos, G5330) — a separatist, i.e. exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary συνέδριον (synédrion, G4892) — a joint session, i.e. (specially), the Jewish Sanhedrin; by analogy, a subordinate… λέγω (légō, G3004) — properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or… τίς (tís, G5101) — an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions) ποιέω (poiéō, G4160) — to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct) ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because οὗτος (hoûtos, G3778) — the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated) ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, G444) — from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι)); man-faced, i.e. a human being πολύς (polýs, G4183) — (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial,… σημεῖον (sēmeîon, G4592) — an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Matthew 26:3rank 7

At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

Matthew 5:22rank 3

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

John 12:19rank 3

Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”

John 11:57rank 3

But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him.

John 2:11rank 3

Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

Mark 14:1rank 2

Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.

Luke 22:2rank 2

and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.

Acts 5:21rank 2

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

Acts 5:24rank 2

When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.

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