John Chrysostom

"Then were assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill Him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people." Seest thou the unspeakable corruption of the Jewish state? Attempting unlawful acts, they come to the high priest, desiring to obtain their authority from that quarter, whence they ought to have found hindrance. …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 79 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

The law commanded that there be one high priest for life, but they, contrary to the law, had then the practice of making a new high priest each year, so that there were many. So they approached the high priest of that year to deliberate a murder with him whose duty it was to punish murderers. "The high priests" are those who had already fulfilled their year of service.

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Jerome

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus by trickery and kill him. But they said, 'Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.' Now those who were supposed to prepare the Passover sacrifices, cleanse the walls of the temple, sweep the floors, purify the vessels, and be ritually purified according to the Law in order to be worthy to eat the Passover lamb, were gathered together …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Leo the Great

We recognise here a providential arrangement whereby the chief men of the Jews, who had often sought occasion of effecting their cruel purposes against Christ, could never yet succeed till the days of the paschal celebration. For it behoved that the things which had long been promised in symbol and mystery should be accomplished in manifest reality, that the typical lamb should be displaced by the true, and one sacrifice embrace the whole catalogue of the varied victims. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then were gathered together the chief priests etc. In this part is set forth the perverse counsel of the Pharisees. And first is set forth the counsel concerning Christ's passion; second, concerning the delay, at but they said: not on the festival day. Concerning the first, we can note that the sin of the Jews is aggravated by the time, because it was then, with the paschal feast approaching; Isaiah 58:13: if thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy own will in my holy day. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗