As in verse 47, the Greek text here reads the chief priests and the Pharisees. In verse 47 Good News Translation reverses the order, mentioning the Pharisees first because they were already known to the readers and the chief priests were not. It is not necessary to reverse the order here, because both the chief priests and the Pharisees have been introduced into the discourse.

The verb translated must report it (New American Bible “should report it”; New English Bible “should give information”; Jerusalem Bible “must inform them”; Phillips “should tell them”) occurs only here in John’s Gospel. It is used similarly but in a passive form in Acts 23.30 (Good News Translation when I was informed).

The content of what was ordered by the chief priests and Pharisees must be expressed as direct discourse in some languages, for example, “The chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded, ‘If anyone knows where Jesus is, he must report it to us so that we can arrest him’.” He must report it may also be rendered “he must tell us what he knows.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .