1And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples: [26:2] "You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man is delivered over to be crucified." [26:3] Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the courtyard of the high priest, the one called Caiaphas, [26:4] and they plotted together in order that they might seize Jesus by guile and kill Him. [26:5] They were saying, however: "Not during the feast, that a riot may not happen among the people."
MAT 26:1-5
The Plot to Kill Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st century, the Passover was a deeply significant Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus, drawing large crowds to Jerusalem. The chief priests, scribes, and elders formed the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, which operated under Roman oversight. Their concern about a riot reflects the volatile political climate; Roman authorities were quick to suppress any unrest, especially during festivals. The mention of Caiaphas, the high priest, highlights his role as a mediator between Jewish religious authority and Roman political power. The plot to seize Jesus 'by guile' underscores their fear of public backlash, as Jesus had significant popular support. The timing—avoiding the feast—reveals their strategic caution, as arresting Jesus openly during Passover could provoke the crowds. This passage reflects the tension between maintaining religious and political stability and their determination to eliminate Jesus as a perceived threat.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 26:1
- KJV
- And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
- BSB
- When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples,
- Koinōnos
- And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples:
MAT 26:2
- KJV
- Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
- BSB
- “You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
- Koinōnos
- You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man is delivered over to be crucified.
MAT 26:3
- KJV
- Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
- BSB
- At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
- Koinōnos
- Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the courtyard of the high priest, the one called Caiaphas,
MAT 26:4
- KJV
- And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
- BSB
- and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.
- Koinōnos
- and they plotted together in order that they might seize Jesus by guile and kill Him.
MAT 26:5
- 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.”
- Koinōnos
- They were saying, however: "Not during the feast, that a riot may not happen among the people.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 26:2
- Passover:The word translated 'Passover' refers to both the annual Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus and the lamb sacrificed as part of that celebration.
MAT 26:3
- chief priests:The term 'chief priests' refers to the leading members of the priestly families, including the high priest and former high priests, who held significant religious and political authority.
- scribes:The word translated 'scribes' here refers to learned experts in Jewish law and tradition, who often served as interpreters and teachers of the Torah.
MAT 26:4
- by guile:The phrase 'by guile' implies a deliberate and cunning deception, often with malicious intent, rather than just simple trickery.