Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, on John 11:51

“And this he spoke not of himself: but being the high priest of that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.”

“Caiaphas . . . prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation--He meant nothing more than that the way to prevent the apprehended ruin of the nation was to make a sacrifice of the Disturber of their peace. But in giving utterance to this suggestion of political expediency, he was so guided as to give forth a divine prediction of deep significance; and God so ordered it that it should come from the lips of the high priest for that memorable year, the recognized head of God's visible people, whose ancient office, symbolized by the Urim and Thummim, was to decide in the last resort, all vital questions as the oracle of the divine will.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.