John 11:57
Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him. Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.
The verse belongs to the time when the Jewish Passover was near at hand, when many had gone up to Jerusalem from different parts of the country to purify themselves according to Jewish ceremonial custom. As people sought Jesus, crowds talked much about Him and wondered whether He would be present at the feast and come to Jerusalem for it. Reports of His coming stirred widespread excitement, and people eagerly wondered whether He would attend. They stood in the temple asking whether He would come to the feast.
Both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if anyone knew where He was he should make it known and report it, turning public speculation about whether He would attend into an organized effort to locate Him so they might seize and arrest Him. The priests and rulers feared He might stay away and not come to Jerusalem for the feast, because He knew their purposes and plans, had recognized and exposed their motives, and had frustrated their murderous plans with earlier escapes. Their hostility had grown more bitter, and they wanted Him to come so they could seize Him and remove Him, waiting for an opportunity to do so.
Despite the command, six days before the Passover Jesus still came to Bethany where Lazarus was whom He had raised from the dead. There a supper was made for Him where Martha served and Lazarus sat at the table with Him.