The Plan to Kill Jesus^(A)

14 It was now only two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread [^Cthe annual festival that celebrates God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt; Ex. 12]. The ·leading [^Tchief] priests and ·teachers of the law [scribes] were trying to find a ·trick [secret way] to arrest Jesus and kill him. ² But they said, “We must not do it during the feast, because the people might cause a riot.”

The Plan to Kill Jesus^(A)

26 After Jesus finished saying all these things [^Cthis is the end of Jesus’ fifth and final discourse in Matthew; see 7:28], he told his ·followers [disciples], ² “You know that ·the day after tomorrow [^Ltwo days from now] is the day of the Passover Feast [^Cthe festival during which an unblemished lamb was sacrificed]. On that day the Son of Man will be ·given to his enemies [handed over] to be crucified.”

³ Then the ·leading [^Tchief] priests and the elders ·had a meeting [assembled] at the ·palace [court] of the high priest, named Caiaphas. ⁴ At the meeting, they ·planned [plotted] ·to set a trap [to act secretly/treacherously] to arrest Jesus and kill him. ⁵ But they said, “We must not do it during the ·feast [Passover festival], because the people might cause a riot.”

Judas Betrays Jesus^(A)

22 It was almost time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover Feast [^Ccelebrating God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt; Ex. 12]. ² The ·leading [^Tchief] priests and ·teachers of the law [scribes] were trying to find a way to ·kill [destroy; eliminate] Jesus, ·because [or but] they were afraid of the people [^Cbecause of Jesus’ popularity].