John 11:57

The chief priests and the Pharisees had given. commandment.

The Sanhedrim had published an edict commanding any man who knew of his whereabouts to reveal it in order that they might take him. Godet is of the opinion that this order was given to intimidate Christ and his disciples so as to prevent their coming to the Passover. They certainly could have traced him to Ephraim and when he did appear they had to lay their plans very carefully and nearly. week passed before they dared to arrest him. Lightfoot reports. Jewish tradition that, during forty days preceding the Passover, an officer of the Sanhedrim "publicly proclaimed that this man, who by his imposture had seduced the people, ought to be stoned, and that any one who could say aught in his defence was to come forward and speak. But no one doing so he was hanged on the evening before the Passover." It maybe that John refers to some such proclamation.