John 11:49 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Caiaphas being the high priest that same year - By the law of Moses, Exodus 40:15, the office of high priest was for life, and the son of Aaron's race always succeeded his father. But at this time the high priesthood was almost annual: the Romans and Herod put down and raised up whom they pleased, and when they pleased, without attending to any other rule than merely that the person put in this office should be of the sacerdotal race. According to Josephus, Ant. xviii. c. 3, the proper name of this person was Joseph, and Caiaphas was his surname. He possessed the high priesthood for eight or nine years, and was deposed by Vitellius, governor of Judea. See on Luke 3:2 (note).

Ye know nothing - Of the perilous state in which ye stand.

John 11:49

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,