All were to sit down by companies ( συμπόσια συμπόσια)—St. Luke (Luke 9:14) says that the companies were about fifty each ( ἀνὰ πεντήκοντα)—upon the green grass. St. John says (John 6:10) that "there was much grass in the place."
This indicates the time of the year. The grass was growing, and it was green. It would not be green in that district after April. Thus St. Mark's account of the state of the grass at that time (an account evidently repeated from an eye-witness) coincides with the account of St.
John, who says that "the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was at hand" (John 6:4).