John 11:45-57

Modern English Version

The Plot to Kill Jesus^(A)

⁴⁵ Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what Jesus had done, believed in Him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled the Sanhedrin and said, “What shall we do? This Man is performing many signs. ⁴⁸ If we leave Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

⁴⁹ Then one of them named Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, ⁵⁰ nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, that the whole nation should not perish.”

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own authority. But being the high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, ⁵² and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together in unity the children of God who were scattered abroad. ⁵³ So from that day forward they planned to put Him to death.

⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and remained there with His disciples.

⁵⁵ Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up to Jerusalem from the country before the Passover to purify themselves. ⁵⁶ Then they searched for Jesus and said among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think, that He will not come to the feast?” ⁵⁷ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.