when it was day St Mark (Mark 1:35) uses the expression "rising up exceedingly early in the morning, while it was yet dark." It was His object to escape into silence, and solitude, and prayer, without being observed by the multitudes.

into a desert place Densely as the district was populated, such a place might be found in such hill ravines as the Vale of Doves at no great distance.

the people sought him Rather, were earnestly seeking for Him. It is characteristic of the eager impetuosity of St Peter, that (as St Mark tells us, Luke 1:36) he, with his friends, on this occasion (literally) "hunted Him down" (katedioxan).

stayed him Rather, tried or wished to detain Him. It is the tentativeimperfect.

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