So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The core of their panic isn't just that Jesus is performing signs, but that this is happening now and they are doing nothing about it. Their question, "What are we to do?" in the present tense, reveals their desperate realization that their inaction has allowed His influence to grow unchecked, and they feel cornered by His ongoing work.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the dramatic resurrection of Lazarus, which is undeniable proof of Jesus' divine power, the Jewish religious leaders are thrown into a panic. They convene an emergency meeting of their ruling council, the Sanhedrin, admitting they are losing control because Jesus' numerous miracles are drawing people to believe in him. Their urgent question, "What are we to do?" reveals their fear that if Jesus continues unchecked, his popularity will provoke the Roman authorities to intervene, potentially destroying their nation and religious system.
The resurrection of Lazarus wasn't just a miracle; it was a crisis for the religious establishment. Faced with Jesus' undeniable power, their immediate reaction wasn't awe, but alarm.
The chief priests and Pharisees, the spiritual leaders of Israel, convened an emergency council. Their primary concern wasn't understanding Jesus or His power, but what they should do about it. The verse highlights their fear: 'What do we?' is a question born of desperation, not curiosity. They acknowledge He performs 'many signs,' a testament to His undeniable impact. However, this recognition doesn't lead them to faith. Instead, it fuels their anxiety about losing their influence and control. Their focus is on self-preservation and maintaining the status quo, rather than on seeking truth.
The very signs that should have pointed to Jesus' divine authority became the primary reason for His enemies to plot His destruction.
It’s a profound irony: Jesus performs 'many signs,' works of divine power that ought to draw people to God. Yet, for the religious leaders, these miracles are the catalyst for a deadly plot. They don't see the signs as confirmation of Jesus' identity but as a threat to their own authority and the nation's stability, fearing that 'all will believe on him' and provoke the Romans (John 11:48). This highlights a critical truth: genuine spiritual power can be perceived as a threat by those who are unwilling to submit to God's authority. Their fear isn't just about Jesus; it's about the potential uprising and loss of their 'place and nation,' a political concern masking their spiritual rebellion.
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Understand the original words
archiereis · Greek Noun
The leading priests in Jerusalem, often members of the Sadducean party, who oversaw the Temple and held significant political power within the Sanhedrin.
synedrion · Greek Noun
The supreme Jewish judicial and religious council, composed of 71 members including the high priest, elders, and chief priests. It held authority over local religious and some civil matters under Roman oversight.
semeia · Greek Noun
Miraculous events or wonders performed by Jesus intended to serve as authentication of his divine identity and messianic mission. They are 'signs' that point beyond themselves to a greater reality concerning Christ.
The resurrection of Lazarus so alarmed the Jewish leadership that they convened their highest court. Their debate reveals a critical tension: acknowledging Jesus' miraculous power while fearing His influence and the potential Roman intervention, a fear that ultimately overrides truth and justice.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus travels throughout Galilee and Judea, performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God, attracting large crowds and significant opposition from religious leaders.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Raising of Lazarus
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in Bethany, a powerful sign that deeply impacts witnesses and further enrages the religious authorities.
c. 33 AD
Sanhedrin Convenes
Faced with the undeniable miracle of Lazarus's resurrection and Jesus' growing influence, the chief priests and Pharisees convene the Sanhedrin to decide how to deal with Jesus.
c. 33 AD
Caiaphas's Prophecy
High Priest Caiaphas advises the council, stating it is expedient that one man die for the people, a statement later understood as a prophecy of Jesus' atoning sacrifice.
c. 33 AD
Jesus' Arrest and Crucifixion
Following the council's decision and Judas's betrayal, Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified in Jerusalem.
c. 33 AD
Resurrection and Ascension
Jesus is resurrected from the dead, appearing to his disciples over 40 days before ascending into heaven.
This passage shows a similar council grappling with Jesus' power, asking 'What shall we do with these men? For indeed a notable miracle has been performed through them, and it is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.'
Exodus 7:11-12The magicians of Egypt performed signs and wonders that mirrored Moses' miracles, illustrating the challenge the Jewish leaders faced: how to discern true divine power from mere trickery or sorcery.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3This passage warns against false prophets who perform signs and wonders, providing a theological framework the religious leaders might have used to justify their suspicion and opposition to Jesus, despite His miracles.
John 12:19This verse shows the Pharisees expressing a similar sentiment of helplessness and concern over Jesus' growing influence after the raising of Lazarus, stating 'You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the whole world has gone after him!'
Matthew 27:62-66This passage details the chief priests and Pharisees' fear and subsequent actions after Jesus' resurrection, showing their continued desperation and attempts to suppress the truth, even using guards and sealing the tomb.
vincentJohn 11:47: "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles."
The chief priestsOf 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 Pharis…
calvinJohn 11:45-52: "Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him."
- Many therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46. But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them what Jesus had done. 47. Then the chief priests and Pharisees assembled the council, and said, What do we? for this man doth many miracles. 48. If we let him go on thus, all will believe on him; and the Roma…
The core of their panic isn't just that Jesus is performing signs, but that this is happening now and they are doing nothing about it. Their question, "What are we to do?" in the present tense, reveals their desperate realization that their inaction has allowed His influence to grow unchecked, and they feel cornered by His ongoing work.
Following the dramatic resurrection of Lazarus, which is undeniable proof of Jesus' divine power, the Jewish religious leaders are thrown into a panic. They convene an emergency meeting of their ruling council, the Sanhedrin, admitting they are losing control because Jesus' numerous miracles are drawing people to believe in him. Their urgent question, "What are we to do?" reveals their fear that if Jesus continues unchecked, his popularity will provoke the Roman authorities to intervene, potentially destroying their nation and religious system.
Following the dramatic resurrection of Lazarus, which is undeniable proof of Jesus' divine power, the Jewish religious leaders are thrown into a panic. They convene an emergency meeting of their ruling council, the Sanhedrin, admitting they are losing control because Jesus' numerous miracles are drawing people to believe in him. Their urgent question, "What are we to do?" reveals their fear that if Jesus continues unchecked, his popularity will provoke the Roman authorities to intervene, potentially destroying their nation and religious system.
"So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs." — The core of their panic isn't just that Jesus is performing signs, but that this is happening now and they are doing nothing about it. Their question, "What are we to do?" in the present tense, r…
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Last reviewed October 2026