John 11:49-52

And—Caiaphas, being the high-priest that same year, said, &c.— It is well known, that the high-priesthood among the Jews was not annual; but the manyrevolutions about this period might justify thepresent manner of speaking, which signifies no more, as some think, than in those days, or at that time. See Luke 3:2. Others, however, imagine, that the expression is emphatical; that year, that memorable year, in which Christ was to die; it was the last and chief of Daniel's seventy weeks, the fortieth year before the destruction of Jerusalem, and was celebrated, for various causes, in Jewish history. As God was wont anciently to communicate his oracles to the high-priest clothed with the pontifical garments;so he inspired the words, John 11:50 into Caiaphas, who now bare that office, though he was not sensible himself of the inspiration, and meant what he said in a different sense from what God intended should be signified by it; and thus he gave unawares as clear a testimony to the priestly, as Pilate did to the kingly office of Christ. By the children of God, John 11:52 are meant his true worshippers, not only among the Jews, but likewise among all nations in the world; who were to be gathered, through Christ, into one flock, one glorious and happy society. See ch. John 10:16.