SECTION FOUR FOR THE DEATH OF JESUS Mark 14:1-52 1. COUNCIL OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES Mark 14:1-2 (Matthew 26:1-5; Luke 22:1-2) 1 Now after two days was the feast of the passover--The yearly feast celebrated in Jerusalem, by command of God, in commemoration of the "passover" of the children of Israel by the destroying angel, the night when he slew all the firstborn of the Egyptians. For the origin of this feast see Exodus 12:1-14. and the unleavened bread:--Bread in the making of which no yeast or other ferment had been used. During the days of the festival no leaven was allowed in the houses of the Israelites, and it was therefore called, also, "The feast of unleavened bread." (Luke 22:1.) The Passover and the feast of unleavened bread occupied eight days. and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him--Unable to make a defense of their course by fair words and arguments, they were determined to destroy him who had exposed them. with subtlety, and kill him:--That is, by some secret plan that would secure possession of him without exciting the opposition of the people. They counseled together how this could best be done. (Matthew 26:4.) 2 for they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people.--The gatherings of Israelites to the feasts seem almost incredible, as many as two millions being assembled in and around the city. All their national pride was in the highest state of excitement, and they were ripe for insurrection, according to Josephus. Many of them were from the mountain regions of Galilee and its vicinity, whence Christ came, and might make an ungovernable tumult if he were arrested in their presence or while they remained in the city.