Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
The approaching feast was the Passover, which is also called the feast of unleavened bread. The timing is fixed to just before and near that feast, placing the betrayal, death, and trial of Jesus and establishing the setting for the events that follow. At that time the scribes and priests counseled together how to seize Jesus without raising a tumult among the people. Many who had witnessed His mighty works believed Him to be a prophet from God, the prophet of the Most High, and would have been greatly angered by any attempt upon His liberty. The leaders therefore concluded that open violence would not be good policy and that treachery must serve their purpose. The priests and rulers hurried to secure His execution before the feast began. They did so because the feast would cause a week's delay, and they feared the crowd's excitement would subside and public support for Jesus might lead to His release.
The approaching feast was the Passover, which is also called the feast of unleavened bread. The timing is fixed to just before and near that feast, placing the betrayal, death, and trial of Jesus and establishing the setting for the events that follow. At that time the scribes and priests counseled together how to seize Jesus without raising a tumult among the people. Many who had witnessed His mighty works believed Him to be a prophet from God, the prophet of the Most High, and would have been greatly angered by any attempt upon His liberty. The leaders therefore concluded that open violence would not be good policy and that treachery must serve their purpose. The priests and rulers hurried to secure His execution before the feast began. They did so because the feast would cause a week's delay, and they feared the crowd's excitement would subside and public support for Jesus might lead to His release.