Mark 12:12

Now ¹  they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So ²  they left him and went away. ³ 

Then they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away.

The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest him for using this illustration because they realized he was pointing at them––they were the wicked farmers in his story. But they were afraid to touch him because of the crowds. So they left him and went away.

They wanted to lynch him then and there but, intimidated by public opinion, held back. They knew the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could.

And they made attempts to take him; but they were in fear of the people, because they saw that the story was against them; and they went away from him.

When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.

And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

Now ¹  they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So ²  they left him and went away. ³ 

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to introduce a somewhat parenthetical remark by the author.

² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.

³ sn The point of the parable in Mark 12:1-12 is that the leaders of the nation have been rejected by God and the vineyard (v. 9, referring to the nation and its privileged status) will be taken from them and given to others (an allusion to the Gentiles).