John 11:53
in John 11So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death.
KJV
Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
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This verse in John 11
Commentary
15 notes on this verseFor they had the desire to defile themselves with Christ's Blood, and from the moment at which the assembly took place, it received as it were a fresh start, the common consent of all to it being publicly acknowledged. For the Evangelist did not say simply: "From that hour they took counsel to commit the murder," but: "They took counsel together;" that is to say, the very thing which seemed desirable to each one individually was pleasing to them all collectively.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(tom. xxviii. c. 17.) Inflamed by the speech of Caiaphas, they determined on killing our Lord: Then from that day forth they took counsel together to put Him to death. Was this then the work of the Holy Spirit, as well as the former, or was it another spirit which did both first speak by the mouth of a wicked man, and then excite others like him to kill Christ? Answer: It is not necessary that both should be the work of the same spirit. As some turn the Scriptures themselves, which were given for our good, to the support of bad doctrines; so this true prophecy respecting our Saviour was understood in a wrong sense, as if it were a call to put Him to death.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 28.186-87, 190-91 · Written before 253.
proposed
Spurred on by Caiaphas's words, they took counsel together to kill the Lord. From what sort of spirit then did Caiaphas prophesy that Jesus was to die for the nation, and was the Holy Spirit at work in such a man, and thus became the cause of the plot against Jesus? Or was it not then the Holy Spirit but another spirit which was able both to speak in the impious man and to move those like him against Jesus?… Just as those who deliberately put the worst construction on things misrepresent the holy meaning of the Scriptures … so did the Pharisees and the chief priests. For they did not understand correctly the prophecy about our Savior that Caiaphas spoke. It is a prophecy that is true in that it is better for us that one man die for the people and the whole nation not perish. But they thought the meaning and intention of his counsel was something else, and so they took counsel together from that day to kill Jesus. Now, I say these things to answer the argument that it was the Holy Spirit who prophesied through Caiaphas. I personally do not in the least maintain that this was the case but leave it to the readers to decide what one must recognize as correct concerning Caiaphas and whether he was moved by the Spirit.
And, in truth, had sought to do so before; for the Evangelist saith, "Therefore the Jews sought to kill Him"; and, "Why seek ye to kill Me?" But then they only sought, now they ratified their determination, and treated the action as their business.
The Medieval Church2 voices
From that day therefore they devised to put him to death, no one any longer contradicting: because, even though they had sought before, as is said above in chapters 7 and 8: "Why do you seek to kill me?" yet not with so definite a …
(vi. Moral.) His persecutors accomplished this wicked purpose, and put Him to death, thinking to extinguish the devotion of His followers; but faith grew from the very thing which these cruel and unbelieving men thought would destroy it. That which human cruelty had executed against Him, He turned to the purposes of His mercy.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
This means that from that day they especially and definitively confirmed themselves in this intention. They had plotted murder even before this, but weakly, and the matter was more of a question than a decision, but now a final judgment and decisive verdict had been …
1581 Then when he says, So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death, the Evangelist sets down the agreement among the Jews on the death of Christ. But did they not previously think of putting him to death? It …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Then from that day forth,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
They took counsel - The judgment of the high priest silenced opposition, and they began to devise measures to put him to death without exciting tumult among the people. Compare Mat 26:5.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
These concluding verses of the eleventh chapter of John contain a melancholy picture of human nature. As we turn away from Jesus Christ and the grave at Bethany, and look at Jerusalem and the rulers of the Jews, we may well say, "Lord, what is man?" We should observe, for one thing, in these verses, the desperate wickedness of man's natural heart. A mighty miracle was wrought within an easy walk of Jerusalem. A man four days dead was raised to life, in the sight of many witnesses.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
they took council together to put him to death--Caiaphas but expressed what the party was secretly wishing, but afraid to propose. Jesus . . . walked no more openly among the Jews--How could He, unless He had wished to die before His time? near to the wilderness--of Judea. a city called Ephraim--between Jerusalem and Jericho.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
These concluding verses of the eleventh chapter of John contain a melancholy picture of human nature. As we turn away from Jesus Christ and the grave at Bethany, and look at Jerusalem and the rulers of the Jews, we may well say, "Lord, what is man?" We should observe, for one thing, in these verses, the desperate wickedness of man's natural heart. A mighty miracle was wrought within an easy walk of Jerusalem. A man four days dead was raised to life, in the sight of many witnesses. The fact was unmistakable, and could not be denied; and yet the chief priests and Pharisees would not believe that He who did this miracle ought to be received as the Messiah. In the face of overwhelming evidence they shut their eyes, and refused to be convinced. "This man," they admitted, "does many miracles." But so far from yielding to this testimony, they only plunged into further wickedness, and "took counsel to put Him to death." Great, indeed, is the power of unbelief! Let us beware of supposing that miracles alone have any power to convert men's souls, and to make them Christians. The idea is a complete delusion. To fancy, as some do, that if they saw something wonderful done before their eyes in confirmation of the Gospel, they would at once cast off all indecision and serve Christ, is a mere idle dream. It is the grace of the Spirit in our hearts, and not miracles, that our souls require. The Jews of our Lord's day are a standing proof to mankind that men may see signs and wonders, and yet remain hard as stone. It is a deep and true saying, "If men believe not Moses and the Prophets, neither would they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:31.) We must never wonder if we see abounding unbelief in our own times, and around our own homes.
They took counsel together - Συνεβουλευσαντο, they were of one accord in the business, and had fully made up their minds on the subject; and they waited only for a proper opportunity to put him to death.
The words behind it
9 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀπ᾽ | ap᾽ | From | G575 → | 640 times |
| ἐκείνης | ekeines | that [very] | G1565 → | 260 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἡμέρας | hemeras | day | G2250 → | 389 times |
| ἐβουλεύσαντο | ebouleusanto | they plotted | G1011 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἀποκτείνωσιν | apokteinosin | they may kill | G615 → | 74 times |
| αὐτόν.¶ | auton | Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ἀπ᾽From
ap᾽G575 →640 times
ἐκείνηςthat [very]
ekeinesG1565 →260 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἡμέραςday
hemerasG2250 →389 times
ἐβουλεύσαντοthey plotted
ebouleusantoG1011 →
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἀποκτείνωσινthey may kill
apokteinosinG615 →74 times
αὐτόν.¶Him.
autonG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 5:33When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.
it leads to
- Acts 7:54
On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
- Luke 4:28–29
On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged.
- Acts 2:37
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
- Acts 7:54
Through
Matthew 22:46No one was able to answer a word, and from that day on no one dared to question Him any further.
it leads to
- Mark 12:34
When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.
- Mark 12:34
Through
John 12:10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
it leads to
- Luke 16:31
Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
- Genesis 4:4–10
while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
- Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years…
- John 11:47–53
Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
- Luke 16:31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies14
On this verse
On this chapter
About John

This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Commentary on John, Chapter 11; Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 7; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of John 65; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 28.186-87, 190-91; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on John and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on John.
