John Calvin Commentary John 11:49

"But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all," — John 11:49 (ASV)

Then one of them, named Caiaphas. It was a short consultation, for Caiaphas did not allow them to hesitate long. He maintained that there is only one way of purchasing safety: to kill an innocent man. To what a level of wickedness do people proceed, who, lacking the fear of God, form their plans based on their own fleshly judgment rather than on the word of God, and who confidently believe that they will gain an advantage from what is not permitted by the Author of every blessing!

For what Caiaphas meant can be expressed this way: “They must provoke the wrath of God so that they may be happy and prosperous.” Therefore, let us learn never to separate what is useful from what is lawful, since we should not expect any prosperity or success except from the blessing of God. This blessing is promised not to wicked and rebellious people who ask assistance from the devil, but to believers who sincerely walk in their ways (Psalms 91:11).

And yet, there was some plausibility to this argument, because the public advantage should always be given preference. But — as I have already said — a people is no better protected by the unjust death of an innocent man than the whole body of a man is protected when you only cut his throat or pierce his breast with a sword.

Who was the high priest of that year. He does not call him the high priest of that year, as if he meant that the office was annual and lasted only for a year, but because the office had become something that could be purchased with money and was given to various people contrary to the command of the Law. God did not intend for this dignity to end except by the death of the one who held it; but, as a result of trouble and confusion in public affairs, the Romans frequently changed the priests according to their whim.