Mark 14:2

2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

Mark 14:2 in Other Translations

2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

2 for they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people."

2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

2 They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. "We don't want the crowds up in arms," they said.

2 "Not during the festival," they said, "or there may be rioting among the people."

Mark 14:2 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 14:2

But they said not on the feast day
The feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread, which was nigh at hand, and would be two days hence, when there would be a great concourse of people from all parts to keep it: and therefore they did not choose to seize him, and put him to death at that time,

lest there should be an uproar of the people;
or among them, lest they should rise in his favour, and rescue him out of their hands; (See Gill on Matthew 26:5).

Mark 14:2 In-Context

1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.

2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?

5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.