Mark 14:2

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

American Standard Version (1901)

for they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people.

Bible in Basic English

But they said, Not while the feast is going on, for fear there may be trouble among the people.

Free Bible Version

“But not during Passover,” they said to themselves, “otherwise the people may riot.”

Geneva Bible 1599

But they sayde, Not in the feast day, least there be any tumult among the people.

King James (Authorized) Version

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

One Unity Resource Bible

For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot of the people.”

Translation for Translators

But they were saying to one another, “We must not do it during the celebration, because, if we do it then, the people will be very angry with us and riot!”

Unlocked Literal Bible

For they were saying, “Not during the feast, so that a riot does not arise among the people.”

Noah Webster Bible

But they said, Not on the feast -day , lest there should be an uproar of the people.

World English Bible

For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.”

Young's Literal Translation

and they said, 'Not in the feast, lest there shall be a tumult of the people.'

Context

The Plot to Kill Jesus

¹Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.²“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Summary

In Mark 14:2, the chief priests and scribes were seeking to arrest Jesus secretly and kill Him, but they were cautious due to the people's response to Jesus as a popular figure. This verse sets the stage for the unfolding events leading to Jesus' crucifixion, highlighting the religious leaders' plot against Him. It reveals the contrast between their malicious intentions and the public's admiration for Jesus, foreshadowing the conflict that would culminate in His betrayal and death on the cross.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

But they said, Not on the feast day--rather, not during the feast; not until the seven days of unleavened bread should be over. lest there be an uproar of the people--In consequence of the vast influx of strangers, embracing all the male population of the land who had reached a certain age, there were within the walls of Jerusalem at this festival some two million people; and in their excited state, the danger of tumult and bloodshed among "the people," who for the most part took Jesus for a prophet, was extreme. See JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 20.5.3]. What plan, if any, these ecclesiastics fixed upon for seizing our Lord, does not appear. But the proposal of Judas being at once and eagerly gone into, it is probable they were till then at some loss for a plan sufficiently quiet and yet effectual. So, just at the feast time shall it be done; the unexpected offer of Judas relieving them of their fears. Thus, as BENGEL remarks, did the divine counsel take effect. The Supper and the Anointing at Bethany Six Days before the Passover (Mar 14:3-9). The time of this part of the narrative is four days before what has just been related. Had it been part of the regular train of events which our Evangelist designed to record, he would probably have inserted it in its proper place, before the conspiracy of the Jewish authorities. But having come to the treason of Judas, he seems to have gone back upon this scene as what probably gave immediate occasion to the awful deed.