A.T. Robertson Commentary John 12:10

"But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;" — John 12:10 (ASV)

The chief priests took counsel (εβουλευσαντο ο αρχιερεις). First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω, old verb, seen already in 11:53 which see. The whole Sanhedrin (7:32) had decided to put Jesus to death and had asked for information concerning him (11:57) that might lead to his arrest, but the Sadducees were specially active now to accomplish the death of Lazarus also (ινα with first aorist active subjunctive of αποκτεινω as in 11:53). Perhaps they argued that, if they should kill both Jesus and Lazarus, then Lazarus would remain dead. The raising of Lazarus has brought matters to a crisis. Incidentally, it may be observed that here we may see the reason why the Synoptics do not tell the story of the raising of Lazarus, if he was still living (cf. the case of Malchus's name in Joh 18:10).