Nearly all the council agreed with the high priest that it was the wisest policy to put Jesus to death. This decision having been made, the question was still to be determined how it should be carried out. They feared to take rash measures lest the people should become incensed and the violence meditated toward Jesus should be visited upon themselves. The Saviour was continually benefiting and teaching the people, they knew him to be one without blame, and his influence over them was very strong; it was on this account that the Pharisees delayed to execute the sentence which they had pronounced against him. {2SP 370.1}

Næsten hele rådet var enigt med ypperstepræsten om, at det var den viseste plan at dræbe Jesus. Da dette var fast besluttet, stod det spørgsmål endnu tilbage, hvorledes man skulle udføre det. De frygtede for at handle i overilelse, så at folket kunne blive ophidset og de selv hjemsøgte af den behandling, som de agtede at bringe over Jesus. Frelseren lærte hele tiden folket og gjorde dem godt; de vidste, at han var uden skyld, og hans indflydelse over dem var meget stor. Det var af denne grund, at de udsatte med at udføre den dom, som de havde fældet over ham.