Luke 19:39-40

19:39 But ¹  some of the Pharisees ²  in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” ³  19:40 He answered, ⁴  “I tell you, if they ⁵  keep silent, the very stones ⁶  will cry out!”

John 11:47-48

11:47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees ⁷  called the council ⁸  together and said, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many miraculous signs. 11:48 If we allow him to go on in this way, ⁹  everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary ¹⁰  and our nation.”

Acts 4:16-18

4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain ¹¹  to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign ¹²  has come about through them, ¹³  and we cannot deny it. 4:17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more ¹⁴  to anyone in this name.” 4:18 And they called them in and ordered ¹⁵  them not to speak or teach at all in the name ¹⁶  of Jesus.

[19:39]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context. Not all present are willing to join in the acclamation.

[19:39]  ² sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[19:39]  ³ sn Teacher, rebuke your disciples. The Pharisees were complaining that the claims were too great.

[19:40]  ⁴ tn Grk “and answering, he said.” This has been simplified in the translation to “He answered.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[19:40]  ⁵ tn Grk “these.”

[19:40]  ⁶ sn This statement amounts to a rebuke. The idiom of creation speaking means that even creation knows what is taking place, yet the Pharisees miss it. On this idiom, see Gen 4:10 and Hab 2:11.

[11:47]  ⁷ tn The phrase “chief priests and Pharisees” is a comprehensive name for the groups represented in the ruling council (the Sanhedrin) as in John 7:45; 18:3; Acts 5:22, 26.

[11:47]  ⁸ tn Or “Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews). The συνέδριον (sunedrion) which they gathered was probably an informal meeting rather than the official Sanhedrin. This is the only occurrence of the word συνέδριον in the Gospel of John, and the only anarthrous singular use in the NT. There are other plural anarthrous uses which have the general meaning “councils.” The fact that Caiaphas in 11:49 is referred to as “one of them” supports the unofficial nature of the meeting; in the official Sanhedrin he, being high priest that year, would have presided over the assembly. Thus it appears that an informal council was called to discuss what to do about Jesus and his activities.

[11:48]  ⁹ tn Grk “If we let him do thus.”

[11:48]  ¹⁰ tn Or “holy place”; Grk “our place” (a reference to the temple in Jerusalem).

[4:16]  ¹¹ tn Or “evident.”

[4:16]  ¹² tn Here σημεῖον (shmeion) has been translated as “miraculous sign” rather than simply “sign” or “miracle” since both components appear to be present in the context. It is clear that the healing of the lame man was a miracle, but for the Sanhedrin it was the value of the miraculous healing as a sign that concerned them because it gave attestation to the message of Peter and John. The sign “speaks” as Peter claimed in 3:11-16.

[4:16]  ¹³ tn Or “has been done by them.”

[4:17]  ¹⁴ tn Or “speak no longer.”

[4:18]  ¹⁵ tn Or “commanded.”

[4:18]  ¹⁶ sn In the name of Jesus. Once again, the “name” reflects the person. The person of Jesus and his authority is the “troubling” topic that, as far as the Jewish leadership is concerned, needs controlling.