When the day was now far spent (ηδη ωρας πολλης γενομενης). Genitive absolute. Hωρα used here for day-time (so Matthew 14:15) as in Polybius and late Greek.

Much day-time already gone . Luke 9:12 has it began to

incline (κλινειν) or wear away. It was after 3 P.M., the first evening. Note second evening or sunset in Mark 6:47; Matthew 14:23; John 6:16. The turn of the afternoon had come and sunset was approaching. The idiom is repeated at the close of the verse. See on Matthew 14:15.