Charles Ellicott Commentary John 11:50

"nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." — John 11:50 (ASV)

Nor consider that it is expedient for us . . .—This remarkable counsel has linked itself in Saint John’s thoughts with the name of Caiaphas. He quotes it again in John 18:14.

Should die for the people, and that the whole nation . . .—Different words are used here in the Greek, as in the English. The former word represents the theocratic people, those who were united together as the servants of God; the latter word is that which is used in John 11:48, and represents the political nation as one of the nations of the earth.