While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
6. And when Jesus was in Bethany. What the Evangelist now relates had happened a little before Christ came to Jerusalem, but is here introduced seasonably, in order to inform us what was the occasion that suddenly drove the priests to make haste.
Now when Jesus was in Bethany,.... Which was about fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem, Joh 11:18, or about two miles from it. The time of Christ's death being at hand, he keeps nigh to Jerusalem, where he was to suffer and die, in the room and stead of sinners: in the house of Simon the leper; so called, to distinguish him from others of the name.
Verse 6. In Bethany. . Simon the leper Simon who had been a leper. Leper. . It was unlawful to eat with persons that had the leprosy; and it is more than probable, therefore, that this Simon had been healed--perhaps by our Lord himself. says, that this was the house where Lazarus was, who had been raised from the dead.