11:48a

If we let Him go on like this: The word If introduces a real possibility. It suggests a possibility that the speakers did not like nor approve of. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

If we allow him to go on in this way (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
If we don’t stop him now (Contemporary English Version)

we: This word refers to the council of Jewish leaders. It is inclusive, as the leaders were talking among themselves.

let Him go on like this: This phrase refers to allowing Jesus to continue doing miracles. The speakers did not approve of what Jesus was doing. You may want to make it clearer what like this means. For example:

let him continue doing these things (New Century Version)

everyone will believe in Him: This clause is an exaggeration. The speakers were afraid that many or most of the Jewish people would believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

will believe in Him: This phrase includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. Here the council was probably worried that people would believe that Jesus was the Messiah and follow him. See how you translated similar phrases in 1:12b, 2:11c, and 11:45b. Here are other ways to translate this idea:

will put their faith in him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
will become believers

11:48b

the Romans will come: This clause means that that the Roman army would come in force and enter Israel. The clause implies that first Jesus would cause his followers to rebel against the Romans. Then the Romans would come to defeat that rebellion. The Romans were already ruling Israel, but they gave the Jewish people some privileges and freedoms.

the Romans: This phrase in this context refers to the Roman army. For example:

the Roman authorities (Good News Translation)
-or-
the Roman army (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the Roman rulers will send soldiers

take away both our place and our nation: The speakers feared that the Romans would ruin the country. They would destroy the temple and take away the rights of the nation.

take away: There are two ways to interpret the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as take away here:

(1) It means “remove” or take away.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible Bible, English Standard Version, King James Version, God’s Word, New Century Version)

(2) It means “destroy.” For example:

the Roman authorities will take action and destroy our Temple and our nation! (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version)

In addition, Revised English Bible translates this word as “sweep away,” which can mean either “remove” or “destroy.” And New Jerusalem Bible translates it as “suppress,” which means “stop” or “keep from doing something or being free.” It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most English translations and Bible experts.

our…our: This word is not repeated in the Greek text, but the Greek does strongly emphasize it. The emphasis implies that the Jewish leaders were not worried so much about the Jewish people, but about themselves. They did not want the Romans to take away (remove) the temple and the nation from them. They did not want to lose their authority and position of honor. They are talking among themselves, so the pronoun is inclusive. Here is another way to translate this word:

The Roman authorities will take away from us both the temple and the nation.

place: Scholars agree that the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as place refers to the temple in Jerusalem. The Jewish temple was still standing then and the Romans allowed the Jews to worship and sacrifice there. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Temple (Good News Translation)
-or-
sanctuary (NET Bible Bible)

nation: This word refers to the Jewish nation of Israel. Israel was part of the Roman Empire then but had certain rights and privileges. The Romans permitted the Jewish people to practice their own religion under their own leaders. The speakers feared that the Romans would take those rights away.

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