Mark 14:2

14:2 For they said, “Not during the feast, so there won’t be a riot among the people.” ¹ 

Mark 15:6

Jesus and Barabbas

15:6 During the feast it was customary to release one prisoner to the people, ²  whomever they requested.

[14:2]  ¹ sn The suggestion here is that Jesus was too popular to openly arrest him. The verb were trying is imperfect. It suggests, in this context, that they were always considering the opportunities.

[15:6]  ² tn Grk “them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.