Albert Barnes on John 11:47

A council. A meeting of the Sanhedrim, or great council of the nation. Mt 2:4. They claimed the right of regulating all the affairs of religion. Jn 1:19.

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

For this man doeth 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 on him? To this it may be replied that they did not doubt that impostors might work miracles. See Mt 24:24. To this opinion they were led, probably, by the wonders which the magicians performed in Egypt (Exodus chapters 7 & 8), and by the passage in De 13:1. As they regarded the tendency of the doctrines of Jesus to draw off the people from the worship of God, and from keeping his law (Jn 9:16), they did not suppose themselves bound to follow him, even if he did work miracles.

(f) "gathered" Ps 2:2