“But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”
- KJV But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
- BSB “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
- NKJV But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
- NASB But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The leaders decide to avoid acting during the feast, fearing a riot. Yet God's timing, not theirs, would prevail.
Overview
The leaders want to delay until after Passover to prevent unrest among the crowds. But their plan is overruled: Judas's unexpected offer accelerates events so that Jesus dies precisely at Passover as the true Paschal Lamb. This shows God's sovereign hand directing even the schemes of men to accomplish His appointed purpose.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Matt 27:24So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”
- Matt 14:5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
- Matt 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
- Mark 14:12On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?”
- Mark 14:2For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot of the people.”
- Prov 19:21There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
- Mark 14:27Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
- Isa 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.
- Ps 76:10Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
- John 18:28They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
- Lam 3:37Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it?
- Luke 22:7The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed.
- Acts 4:28to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen.
- Luke 20:6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 26:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.