John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 26:17
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread ,.... There were seven of these days, and this was the first of them, in which the Jews might not eat leavened bread, from the fourteenth, to the twenty first of the month Nisan; in commemoration of their being thrust out of Egypt, in so much haste, that they had not time to leaven the dough, which was in their kneading troughs: wherefore, according to their canons F3 Misn. Pesach. c. 1. sect, 1. Maimon. Chametz Umetzah, c. 2. sect. 3,... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 26:16
And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Luke adds, "in the absence of the multitude", Luke 22:6 ; in the most private manner, when he was alone, and in some solitary place, that no tumult might arise, and that there might be no danger of a rescue: for so he, and the chief priests, had consulted, and settled it, as what would be most prudent and advisable; and therefore, from that time forward, being prompted on by Satan, and the lucre of the money he was to receive, he... read more