The Jewish authorities counseled together as to what course they should pursue to counteract the effect of this miracle upon the people; for the news spread far and wide that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, and the reality of the event was established by many eye-witnesses. Still the enemies of Jesus sought to circulate lying reports, perverting the facts in the case as far as they were able, and endeavoring to turn the people away from one who had dared to rob the grave of its dead. {2SP 367.2}

De jødiske ældste rådslog med hverandre om, hvorledes de bedst kunne modvirke den indflydelse, som dette mirakel havde på folket; thi den nyhed, at Jesus havde oprejst Lazarus fra de døde, udbredte sig vidt og bredt, og denne begivenheds virkelighed var blevet stadfæstet af mange øjenvidner. Imidlertid søgte Jesu fjender at udsprede løgnagtige rygter, idet de forventede sandheden så vidt som muligt og forsøgte at vende folket bort fra den, som havde vovet at berøve graven dens bytte.