John 11:45-57 - The Jewish Leaders Plot To Kill Jesus
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come to Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."
49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all! 50 You do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that he would gather together into one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they plotted to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim; and there he stayed with his disciples.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?" 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, so that they might arrest him.