Luke 22 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 30
Location
Jerusalem, including the upper room and Mount of Olives (Gethsemane)
Audience
Jesus' disciples and early Gentile Christians (Luke's primary readership)
Situation
During Passover week, Jesus celebrates the Last Supper with his disciples, institutes the Lord's Supper, predicts betrayal and denial, prays in agony in Gethsemane, and is arrested after Judas' betrayal.
Key Background
The events unfold amid Roman occupation of Judea, with Passover drawing huge crowds to Jerusalem and intensifying conflicts between Jesus and Jewish religious leaders who plot his death. Tensions peak due to Jesus' claims of messiahship and criticisms of the temple system. Luke highlights fulfillment of prophecy, servant leadership, and the new covenant to prepare Gentile readers for understanding Jesus' sacrificial death.
The of — also called — was getting close.
The and the in were actively looking for a way to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of how the crowds would react.
Then entered Judas — the one called Iscariot — who was one of the
So Judas went and discussed with the chief priests and how he could to them.
They were thrilled and agreed to pay him
Judas agreed and started watching for a good opportunity to hand Jesus over when there wasn't a crowd around.
Then the day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the had to be sacrificed.
Jesus sent Peter and John ahead, telling them, "Go get the Passover meal ready for us to eat."
"Where do you want us to prepare it?" they asked.
He told them, "When you enter the city, a a will cross your path. Follow him into the house he enters."
"Then say to the owner of the house, 'The asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my followers?'"
"He'll show you a all set up and ready. Prepare the meal there."
They went and found everything exactly as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the were with him.
He said to them, "I've been to eating this Passover meal with you so much — before I go what I'm to go
"Because I'm telling you — I won't eat it again until it its in
Then he took a of wine, to God, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves."
"Because I'm telling you — from now on, I won't drink wine again until God's kingdom comes."
Then he took gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, for you. Keep doing this to me."
He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, "This cup is the — sealed with my which is out for you."
"But look — the hand of the one who is me is right here on this table with me."
"The of is going where it's been he must go — but how terrible it will be for the who hands him over."
They started asking each other which one of them could possibly be about to do this.
Then an argument broke out among them over which of them should be considered the greatest.
Jesus said to them, "The kings of the lord it over their people, and those with authority over others call themselves
"But that's not how it's going to work with you. Instead, the greatest among you should act like the and the one who leads should act like the one who serves."
"Think about it — who's greater, the sitting at the table or the serving? Obviously the sitting at the table. But here I am among you as the who
"You are the ones who have stuck with me through my
"And I'm you a — just as my Father gave one to me — "
"so that you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and on for the twelve tribes of Israel."
— listen. Satan has demanded to all of you
"But I've for you that your faith won't completely fail. And when you've strengthen your brothers."
Peter said to him, I'm ready to go to prison with you — even to die with you."
Jesus replied, "Let me tell you something, Peter — the today before you've denied three times that you even know me."
Then he asked them, "When I sent you out without a travel pack, or sandals — did you go without anything you needed?" "Not a thing," they answered.
He said, "But now, if you have a money bag, take it — and a travel pack too. And if you don't have a sell your coat and buy one."
"Because I'm telling you, this Scripture has to be fulfilled in me: 'He was Yes — what's written about me is its
They said, "Master, look — here are two swords." He replied,
Jesus went out and headed to the of as he usually did, and his followers went with him.
When he arrived at the spot, he told them, "Pray that you won't be the of
He pulled away from them — about a stone's throw — knelt down, and prayed.
if you're willing, take this away from me. But not what I want — what you want."
Then a from appeared to him and gave him strength.
In he prayed even more intensely, and his to the of
When he got up from praying and went back to the followers, he found them asleep, from
He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so you won't be pulled into the time of testing."
While he was still speaking, a crowd showed up, and the man called Judas — one of the twelve — was leading them. He walked up to Jesus to him.
But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you really the Son of Man with a kiss?"
When those around Jesus saw what was about to happen, they said, "Master, should we use our swords?"
And one of them struck the and cut off his right ear.