The result of this apparently formal meeting was the Sanhedrin"s official decision to kill Jesus. This decision constituted another climax in the ongoing opposition against Jesus that John traced in this Gospel (cf. Matthew 26:3-4). Obviously the trials of Jesus before the high priests and the Sanhedrin were simply formalities designed to give the appearance of justice. The leaders had already tried Jesus and sentenced Him to die (cf. Mark 14:1-2). All that remained was to decide when and how to execute His sentence. [source][source][source]
John did not record Jesus" trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, as the Synoptic writers did. This may have been the meeting of the Sanhedrin that he viewed as the real trial of Jesus. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
John 11:45-57 - The Innocent For The Guilty
The friends of the family who had come to lament with them, were disposed toward Jesus and believed; but the mere spectators hastened with the news, to inflame the hatred of the Pharisees. The Romans dreaded the power acquired by permanent office, and often exchanged one high priest for another. Hence the expression, being high priest that year. By his vote Caiaphas may be said to have appointed and sacrificed his victim, who in that memorable year was to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. See Daniel 9:24; Daniel 9:27.
Caiaphas professed to fear that Jesus would presently gain such an ascendency over the people as to lead a revolt against Rome, which would cause a deluge of blood in which the whole nation would perish. Therefore he recommended that they should compass the death of Jesus. But, as the evangelist puts it, he spoke more widely and truly than he knew, because the death of Jesus is gathering into one the children of God who are scattered abroad-that is, the heathen who were living up to their light, as in John 10:16 -that of the twain He might make one new man. [source]
Chapter Summary: John 11
1Jesus raises Lazarus, four days buried 45Many Jews believe 47The high priests and Pharisees gather a council against Jesus 49Caiaphas prophesies 54Jesus hides himself 55At the Passover they enquire after him, and lay wait for him
Greek Commentary for John 11:53
So from that day [απ εκεινης ουν της ημερας] The raising of Lazarus brought matters to a head so to speak. It was now apparently not more than a month before the end. They took counsel First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω bouleuō old verb to take counsel, in the middle voice for themselves, among themselves. The Sanhedrin took the advice of Caiaphas seriously and plotted the death of Jesus. That they might put him to death Purpose clause with ινα hina and first aorist active subjunctive of αποκτεινω apokteinō It is an old purpose (John 5:18; John 7:19; John 8:44,John 8:59; John 10:39; John 11:8) now revived with fresh energy due to the raising of Lazarus. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 11:53
John 12:10The chief priests took counsel [εβουλευσαντο οι αρχιερεις] First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω bouleuō old verb, seen already in John 11:53 which see. The whole Sanhedrin (John 7:32) had decided to put Jesus to death and had asked for information concerning him (John 11:57) that might lead to his arrest, but the Sadducees were specially active now to accomplish the death of Lazarus also Perhaps they argued that, if they should kill both Jesus and Lazarus, then Lazarus would remain dead. The raising of Lazarus has brought matters to a crisis. Incidentally, it may be observed that here we may see the reason why the Synoptics do not tell the story of the raising of Lazarus, if he was still living (cf. the case of Malchus‘s name in John 18:10). [source]
John 20:19When therefore it was evening on that day [ουσης ουν οπσιας τηι ημεραι εκεινει] Genitive absolute with οπσια opsia John often uses this note of time (John 1:39; John 5:9; John 11:53; John 14:20; John 16:23,John 16:26). The addition of τηι μιαι σαββατων tēi miāi sabbatōn (see John 20:1 for this use of μιαι miāi like πρωτηι prōtēi) proves that John is using Roman time, not Jewish, for here evening follows day instead of preceding it. When the doors were shut Genitive absolute again with perfect passive participle of κλειω kleiō shut to keep the Jews out. News of the empty tomb had already spread (Matthew 28:11). See John 7:13 for the phrase “for fear of the Jews”; cf. John 12:42. Stood in the midst Second aorist (ingressive) active (intransitive) of ιστημι histēmi “stepped into the midst.” Peace be unto you The usual oriental salutation as in John 20:21,John 20:26; Luke 24:36, here with probable reference to John 14:27 (Christ‘s legacy of peace). [source]
What do the individual words in John 11:53 mean?
Fromthattherefore-daythey took counsel togetherthatthey might killHim
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἡμέρα
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
Greek Commentary for John 11:53
The raising of Lazarus brought matters to a head so to speak. It was now apparently not more than a month before the end. They took counsel First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω bouleuō old verb to take counsel, in the middle voice for themselves, among themselves. The Sanhedrin took the advice of Caiaphas seriously and plotted the death of Jesus. That they might put him to death Purpose clause with ινα hina and first aorist active subjunctive of αποκτεινω apokteinō It is an old purpose (John 5:18; John 7:19; John 8:44, John 8:59; John 10:39; John 11:8) now revived with fresh energy due to the raising of Lazarus. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 11:53
First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω bouleuō old verb, seen already in John 11:53 which see. The whole Sanhedrin (John 7:32) had decided to put Jesus to death and had asked for information concerning him (John 11:57) that might lead to his arrest, but the Sadducees were specially active now to accomplish the death of Lazarus also Perhaps they argued that, if they should kill both Jesus and Lazarus, then Lazarus would remain dead. The raising of Lazarus has brought matters to a crisis. Incidentally, it may be observed that here we may see the reason why the Synoptics do not tell the story of the raising of Lazarus, if he was still living (cf. the case of Malchus‘s name in John 18:10). [source]
Genitive absolute with οπσια opsia John often uses this note of time (John 1:39; John 5:9; John 11:53; John 14:20; John 16:23, John 16:26). The addition of τηι μιαι σαββατων tēi miāi sabbatōn (see John 20:1 for this use of μιαι miāi like πρωτηι prōtēi) proves that John is using Roman time, not Jewish, for here evening follows day instead of preceding it. When the doors were shut Genitive absolute again with perfect passive participle of κλειω kleiō shut to keep the Jews out. News of the empty tomb had already spread (Matthew 28:11). See John 7:13 for the phrase “for fear of the Jews”; cf. John 12:42. Stood in the midst Second aorist (ingressive) active (intransitive) of ιστημι histēmi “stepped into the midst.” Peace be unto you The usual oriental salutation as in John 20:21, John 20:26; Luke 24:36, here with probable reference to John 14:27 (Christ‘s legacy of peace). [source]