1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.
11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
The 22nd chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a crucial part of the Passion narrative, marking the beginning of the end for Jesus’ earthly ministry. This chapter is filled with significant events and themes, including the Last Supper, Jesus’ betrayal by one of his disciples, his arrest, and his trial before the Sanhedrin. It explores the themes of sacrifice, betrayal, prayer, suffering, and the fulfillment of prophecy.
The chapter begins with the chief priests and scribes seeking a way to kill Jesus. Simultaneously, Satan enters Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve apostles, prompting him to conspire with the religious leaders to betray Jesus. This act of betrayal, which is the first major event in this chapter, sets the stage for the tragic events that follow. The narrative then shifts to the Last Supper, a significant event in Christian liturgy. Here, Jesus, aware of his impending death, shares a meal with his disciples. He breaks bread and shares wine, symbolizing his body and blood, which will soon be sacrificed for humanity's redemption. This act establishes the sacrament of the Eucharist in Christian tradition. Jesus also prophesies that one of his disciples will betray him, a prophecy that would soon come true in the form of Judas Iscariot's actions.
Following the Last Supper, Jesus retreats to the Mount of Olives, where he prays fervently to God. His prayer, characterized by deep anguish and submission to God's will, exemplifies the theme of prayer as a source of strength in times of distress. Luke 22:42 captures this moment vividly: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." This moment is a powerful testament to Jesus' humanity and his unwavering faith in God's plan. Jesus' prayer is interrupted by the arrival of a mob led by Judas, who betrays Jesus with a kiss, signaling to the mob who they should arrest. Despite the violence threatened against him, Jesus responds with peace, even healing the ear of a servant whom one of his disciples had injured in an attempt to defend him. This event showcases Jesus' commitment to peace and non-violence, even in the face of betrayal and imminent suffering.
After his arrest, Jesus is brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high council, where he is interrogated about his identity and teachings. Despite the accusations and threats against him, Jesus maintains his composure, reaffirming his identity as the Son of God. The high priests and scribes, refusing to accept his claim, declare him guilty of blasphemy. This trial marks the culmination of Jesus' conflict with the religious leaders and sets the stage for his crucifixion.
Parallel to Jesus' trial is the narrative of Peter's denial. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus had prophesied that Peter, one of his closest disciples, would deny knowing him three times before the rooster crows. Despite Peter's vehement denial of this prophecy, he ends up doing exactly as Jesus had predicted. This event underscores the theme of human weakness and fear, even among those who are closest to Jesus.
Luke 22 is a chapter laden with theological significance. The Last Supper establishes the sacrament of the Eucharist, a central ritual in Christian worship that commemorates Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus' prayer on the Mount of Olives serves as a model of submission to God's will, while his peaceful response to his arrest embodies Christian teachings on non-violence and forgiveness. The trial before the Sanhedrin and Peter's denial highlight the contrast between Jesus' divine identity and human weakness. They also illustrate the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies, reinforcing his identity as the Messiah. The chapter ends with Jesus' impending crucifixion, setting the stage for the climax of the Passion narrative. In interpreting Luke 22, it is essential to consider the broader context of the Gospel of Luke. This Gospel emphasizes Jesus' compassion for the marginalized, his teachings on social justice, and his role as the Savior of all humanity. The events of Luke 22, particularly Jesus' selfless sacrifice and his response to betrayal and suffering, encapsulate these themes, providing a powerful portrayal of Jesus' love and mercy.
In conclusion, Luke 22 is a pivotal chapter in the Gospel of Luke, chronicling the final hours of Jesus' life before his crucifixion. It explores profound themes such as sacrifice, betrayal, prayer, and the fulfillment of prophecy, offering invaluable insights into Jesus' character and mission. Through its narrative, it invites readers to reflect on the depth of Jesus' love, his unwavering faith in God's will, and his enduring legacy in Christian tradition.
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