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The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs.
Verse 47. The chief priests … said: what do we? and so forth as if they had said: why are we so slow, so remiss, and indolent in our proceedings against this man, when we daily see what numbers he draws after him by his miracles? Witham.
If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
Verse 48. The Romans will come upon us, in case he be admitted as our great Messias, and our King. Witham.
But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
Verse 49. But one of them, named Caiphas, being the high priest, and so forth He said not this, says the evangelist, of himself, but as the high priest of that year. The spirit of prophecy was given him, and he foretells that Jesus was to lay down his life both for the nation of the Jews, and for all mankind. The gift of prophecy itself does not make a man holy. It was also given to the wicked Balaam. Numbers chapter 24. Witham.—It is supposed that he exercised the sacrificial office alternately with his father-in-law, Annas, who, as we have seen in Luke 3:2 was also high priest. V.
nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”
Verse 50. How great is the power of the Holy Ghost? From a wicked mind he brings forth the words of prophecy. And how great is the power attached to the pontifical dignity! For Caiphas having becoming high priest, though unworthy of that dignity, prophesies, not knowing indeed what he says. The Holy Ghost makes use of his tongue only, but touches not his sinful heart. Saint John Chrysostom hom. lxiv in Joan.
Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
Verse 51. The same words have an impious and sacrilegious sense in the intention of the high priest, the enemy of Jesus Christ: and a divine and prophetic sense, in the intention of the Holy Ghost. V.—We here behold the privilege of the office and order, though in a wicked person: and as we have the assistance of God for the utterance of truth, which Caiphas neither meant nor knew, we may rest satisfied that Christ will not leave Peter’s chair; (Luke 22:32) whose faith he promises should never fail, though the occupants be as bad as their enemies describe them.
and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death.
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples.
Verse 54. Ephrem was a small city or town in the neighbourhood of Bethel. Some suppose it to be the same as Ephron, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 13:19, and 1 Maccabees 5. 2 Maccabees 12:17. Eusebius and S. Jerom say it was situated about 20 miles to the north of Jerusalem. Calmet.—Here he remained with his disciples till the time in which he had resolved to deliver himself up into the hands of his enemies. V.