Mark 14:1

Ἦν δὲ τὸ πάσχα. Mt. puts this remark into the mouth of Christ, and he omits τὰ ἄζυμα, which is either confusing or superfluous. The Passover on Nisan 14 was distinct from the [3319] of Unleavened Bread, which lasted from the 15th to the 21st (Leviticus 23:5-6; Numbers 28:16-17; 2 Chronicles 30:15; 2 Chronicles 30:21; etc.). But it was usual to treat them as one festival. Josephus does so expressly (Ant. II. xv. 1, XIV. ii. 1), though he knows that they are distinct (Ant. III. X. 5, IX. xiii. 3). Note the unusual δέ, marking the change of subject, and see on Mark 7:24; Mark 10:32; Mark 15:16.

[3319] Codex Boreelianus. Once in the possession of John Boreel. 9th cent. At Utrecht. Contains Mk 1–41; Mark 2:8-23; Mark 3:5 to Mark 11:6; Mark 11:27 to Mark 14:54; Mark 15:6-39; Mark 16:19-20.

μετὰ δύο ἡμέρας. This is perplexing, and we do not get much help from Hosea 6:2; “He will revive us after two days or on the third day,” where “on the third day” is not the same as “after two days,” but adds a day; “after two or three days” is the meaning—a common expression for a period which cannot or need not be exactly defined. If “after three days” (Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:34) means “on the third day,” then “after two days” should mean “on the second day,” for which αὔριον would have been simpler. But Mk nowhere uses αὔριον. We are probably to understand that what follows took place on the Wednesday, the day before the Synoptic Paschal Supper and two days before the Johannine Passover.

ἐζήτουν. The discussion took some time. Mt., as often, has the aor., συνεβουλεύσαντο, and instead of the Scribes (Mk, Lk.) he has here and in Gethsemane “the elders of the people.” Cf. Matthew 21:23 = Mark 11:27.

ἐν δόλῳ. They were agreed about that; the question was what kind of δόλος.