Matthew 26:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Not on the fast-day— 'Εορτη, the feast; that is to say, the whole time of the solemnity, which lasted seven days. All this interval was favourable to uproars and seditions, on account of the vast concourse of people. It is very remarkable, that the Jews in this instance receded from their usual custom; which was, to punish the most heinous criminals at this very time, that the example might be more general and diffusive. The priests, however, were doubtless more apprehensive of the Galileans, among whom Jesus resided, than of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. However, through fear of an uproar among the people, they determined to depart from their usual mode of proceeding. This circumstance, therefore, affords us an illustrious proof of the interposition of the divine Providence; for the Jews, having a fair opportunity offered them by the treachery of Judas of apprehending our blessed Lord, relinquished their intended design of not apprehending him on the feast-day, and thereby our Lord's crucifixion had a greater number of witnesses, and fell out upon the very time when the paschal lamb was slain. See Grotius, and Josephus, Antiq. b. 20. 100: 4.