{After two days} (meta duo h(886d)eras). This was Tuesday
evening as we count time (beginning of the Jewish Wednesday). In
 Mt 26:2  Jesus is reported as naming this same date which would
put it our Thursday evening, beginning of the Jewish Friday. The
Gospel of John mentions five items that superficially considered
seem to contradict this definite date in Mark and Matthew, but
which are really in harmony with them. See discussion on  Mt
26:17  and my {Harmony of the Gospels}, pp. 279 to 284. Mark
calls it here the feast of "the passover and the unleavened
bread," both names covering the eight days. Sometimes "passover"
is applied to only the first day, sometimes to the whole period.
No sharp distinction in usage was observed. {Sought} (ez(8874)oun).
Imperfect tense. They were still at it, though prevented so far.