Luke 22
New Testament for Everyone
The Last Supper
22 The time came for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, known as Passover. 2 The chief priests and the scribes looked for a way to assassinate Jesus, a difficult task because of the crowds.
3 The satan entered into Judas, whose surname was Iscariot, who was one of the company of the Twelve. 4 He went and held a meeting with the chief priests and officers, to discuss how he might hand Jesus over. 5 They were delighted, and promised to pay him. 6 He agreed, and started to look for an opportunity to hand him over to them when the crowds weren’t around.
7 The day of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day when people had to kill the Passover lamb. 8 Jesus dispatched Peter and John.
“Off you go,” he said, “and get the Passover ready for us to eat.”
9 “Where d’you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
10 “Listen carefully,” said Jesus. “As you go into the city a man will meet you carrying a jar of water. Follow him, and when he goes into a house, go after him. 11 Then say to the householder there, ‘The teacher says, “Where is the living-room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ 12 And he will show you a large upstairs room, laid out and ready. Make the preparations there.”
13 So they went and found it as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
14 When the time came, Jesus sat down at table with the apostles.
15 “I have been so much looking forward to eating this Passover with you before I have to suffer,” he said to them. 16 “For—let me tell you—I won’t eat it again until it’s fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then he took a cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 Let me tell you, from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 Then he took some bread. He gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them.
“This is my body,” he said, “which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.”
20 So too, after supper, with the cup: “This cup,” he said, “is the new covenant, in my blood which is shed for you.
21 “But look here! Someone here is going to betray me. His hand is with mine at this table. 22 The son of man is indeed going, as it is marked out for him; but woe betide that man by whom he is betrayed!”
23 They began to ask each other which of them was going to do this.
Prediction of Peter’s denial
24 A quarrel began among them: which of them would be seen as the most important?
25 “Pagan kings lord it over their subjects,” said Jesus to them, “and people in power get themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 That’s not how it’s to be with you. The most important among you ought to be like the youngest. The leader should be like the servant. 27 After all, who is the more important, the one who sits at table or the one who waits on him? The one at table, obviously! But I am with you here like a servant.
28 “You are the ones who have stuck it out with me through the trials I’ve had to endure. 29 This is my bequest to you: the kingdom my father bequeathed to me! 30 What does this mean? You will eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, listen to this. The satan demanded to have you. He wanted to shake you into bits like wheat. 32 But I prayed for you; I prayed that you wouldn’t run out of faith. And, when you turn back again, you must give strength to your brothers.”
33 “Master,” replied Simon, “I’m ready to go with you to prison—or to death!”
34 “Let me tell you, Peter,” replied Jesus, “before the cock crows today, you will three times deny that you know me.
35 “When I sent you out,” Jesus said to them, “without purse or bag or sandals, were you short of anything?”
“Nothing,” they replied.
36 “But now,” he said, “anyone who has a purse should take it, and the same with a bag. And anyone who doesn’t have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. 37 Let me tell you this: when the Bible says, ‘He was reckoned with the lawless,’ it must find its fulfillment in me. Yes; everything about me must reach its goal.”
38 “Look, Master,” they said, “we’ve got a couple of swords here.”
“That’s enough!” he said to them.
Jesus is arrested
39 So off they went. Jesus headed, as usual, for the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
40 When he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t come into the trial.”
41 He then withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down to pray.
42 “Father,” he said, “if you wish it—please take this cup away from me! But it must be your will, not mine.” 43 An angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 By now he was in agony, and he prayed very fervently. And his sweat became like clots of blood, falling on the ground. 45 Then he got up from praying, and came to the disciples and found them asleep because of sorrow.
46 “Why are you sleeping?” he said to them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t come into the trial.”
47 While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. The man named Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas! Are you going to betray the son of man with a kiss?”
49 Jesus’ followers saw what was about to happen.
“Master!” they said. “Shall we go in with the swords?” 50 And one of them struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear.
51 “Enough of that!” said Jesus, and healed the ear with a touch.
52 Then Jesus spoke to the arresting party—the chief priests, the Temple guards, and the elders.
“Anyone would think I was a brigand,” he said, “seeing you coming out like this with swords and clubs! 53 Every day I’ve been in the Temple with you and you never laid hands on me. But your moment has come at last, and so has the power of darkness.”
Peter denies Jesus
54 So they arrested Jesus, took him off, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance. 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat in among them.
56 A servant-girl saw him sitting by the fire. She stared hard at him. “This fellow was with him!” she said.
57 Peter denied it. “I don’t know him, woman,” he said.
58 After a little while another man saw him and said, “You’re one of them!”
“No, my friend, I’m not,” replied Peter.
59 After the space of about an hour, another man insisted, “It’s true! This man was with him; he’s a Galilean too!”
60 “My good fellow,” said Peter, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” And at once, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The master turned and looked at Peter, and Peter called to mind the words the master had spoken to him: “Before the cock crows, this very day, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
63 The men who were holding Jesus began to make fun of him and knock him about. 64 They blindfolded him.
“Prophesy!” they told him. “Who is it that’s hitting you?”
65 And they said many other scandalous things to him.
66 When the day broke, the official assembly of the people, the chief priests and the scribes came together, and they took him off to their council.
67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us!”
“If I tell you,” he said to them, “you won’t believe me. 68 And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer me. 69 But from now on the son of man will be seated at the right hand of God’s power.”
70 “So you’re the son of God, are you?” they said.
“You say that I am,” he said to them.
71 “Why do we need any more witnesses?” they said. “We’ve heard it ourselves, from his own mouth!”
Luke 22
King James Version
22 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.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
