Verse 12. And they stirred up the people. They excited the people, or alarmed their fears, as had been done before when they sought to put the Lord Jesus to death, Mt 27:20.

The elders. The members of the sanhedrim, or great council.

Scribes. See Barnes "Mt 2:4".

To the council. To the sanhedrim, or the great council of the nation, which claimed jurisdiction in the matters of religion. See Barnes "Mt 2:4".