Albert Barnes Commentary John 11:47

"The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs." — John 11:47 (ASV)

A council. A meeting of the Sanhedrim, or great council of the nation. (See Barnes on Matthew 2:4).

They claimed the right of regulating all the affairs of religion. (See Barnes on John 1:19).

What do we? What measures are we taking to arrest the progress of his sentiments?

For this man does many miracles. If they admitted that he performed miracles, it was clear what they ought to do. They should have received him as the Messiah.

It may be asked, if they really believed that he worked miracles, why did they not believe in him? To this it may be replied that they did not doubt that impostors might work miracles .

They were likely led to this opinion by the wonders the magicians performed in Egypt (Exodus 7-8) and by the passage in Deuteronomy 13:1. Since they regarded the tendency of Jesus' doctrines to turn the people away from the worship of God and from keeping His law (John 9:16), they did not consider themselves obligated to follow him, even if he did work miracles.