^45 (A)Therefore many of the Jews ^(B)who came to Mary, and ^(C)saw what He had done, believed in Him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went to the ^(D)Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.

Conspiracy to Kill Jesus

⁴⁷ Therefore ^(E)the chief priests and the Pharisees ^(F)convened a ^(G)council meeting, and they were saying, “What are we ^[a]doing in regard to the fact that this man is performing many ^[b](H)signs? ⁴⁸ If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take over both our ^[c](I)place and our nation.” ⁴⁹ But one of them, ^(J)Caiaphas, ^(K)who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, ⁵⁰ nor are you taking into account that ^(L)it is in your best interest that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish instead.” ⁵¹ Now he did not say this ^[d]on his own, but ^(M)as he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation; ⁵² and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also ^(N)gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. ⁵³ So from that day on they ^(O)planned together to kill Him.

⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus ^(P)no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, into a city called ^(Q)Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.

⁵⁵ Now ^(R)the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country prior to the Passover, ^(S)in order to ^[e]purify themselves. ⁵⁶ So they ^(T)were looking for Jesus, and saying to one another as they stood in the temple area, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?” ⁵⁷ Now ^(U)the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might arrest Him.