Cornelius a Lapide

But the chief priests thought (sfiov'kiuaotvro consulted) that they might put Lazarus also to death . See here their virulent envy and malice : envying Jesus His glory. They grudge also Lazarus his life, lest it should add to the glory of Jesus. For the feast of the Passover was at hand, at which all the Jews who flocked together would see Lazarus, and wondering at the power of Jesus who had raised him from the dead, would consequently believe on Him. And in order to prevent this, they determine to put him out of the way. But S. Augustine (in loc .) rightly exclaims against them, “ O foolish thought, and blind cruelty! For could not the Lord, who had power to raise him from the dead, have power to raise him up also if he had been put to death ? In putting him to death, could ye take away Christ's power ? If a dead man seems to you one thing, and one who is put to death another, behold the Lord did both, for He both raised Lazarus who was dead, and Himself also who had been put to death.” Digitized by v^iOOQLe MANY JEWS BELIEVE. II Lastly, the raising of Lazarus was especially the work of God, and they therefore who were so eager to put him to death, were fighting against God, and challenging Him, as it were, to the contest. Ver. ii. — Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus — vnfjyov, withdrew themselves, deserted their party. This may mean either, “many of the Jews went their way,” or else “many went away from the unbelieving Jews, and followed Christ”