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Luke 22

Our retelling next to the Bible text it comes from. Each row lines up one scene with the verses it retells.

Between scenesVerses 1 to 6

Scene by Scene

This part isn't retold as its own scene.

Modern

1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people. 3Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.

Scene 1: Getting the Room ReadyVerses 7 to 13

Scene by Scene

In Jerusalem, lambs were being sacrificed. It was the day of Unleavened Bread. On this day, the Passover lambs were killed for the evening meal.

Unleavened bread is flat bread made without yeast. On the first Passover night, the Israelites left Egypt in a hurry. There was no time for their bread to rise (Exodus 12:39).

Jesus sent Peter and John. "Go and get the Passover meal ready for us," he said.

They asked, "Where do you want us to get it ready?"

Jesus told them what would happen. In the city, a man carrying a jug of water would meet them. They should follow him to the house he went into.

Then they should say to the owner, "The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" (22:11). The owner would show them a large upstairs room, already set up.

Peter and John went. They found everything exactly as Jesus had said. So they got the Passover meal ready.

Modern

7Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.” 9“Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked. 10He answered, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters, 11and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 12And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.” 13So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

Scene 2: "I Have Eagerly Desired"Verses 14 to 18

Scene by Scene

When the time came, Jesus reclined at the table with his apostles. To recline means to lie on your side and lean on one elbow. People ate special meals this way.

Jesus said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering" (22:15).

Eagerly desired means he had wanted it very much. Jesus knew his suffering was near. He wanted this meal with his friends first.

He told them he would not eat the Passover again until it was fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Fulfilled means made complete. The kingdom of God means God's rule, the way God runs things.

Then Jesus took a cup of wine and gave thanks. "Take this and share it among yourselves," he said. He said he would not drink wine again until the kingdom of God came.

Luke tells about two cups at this meal. This was the first one.

Modern

14When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles. 15And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering. 16For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

Scene 3: The BreadVerse 19

Scene by Scene

Then Jesus took the bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He gave it to his friends.

Jesus said, "This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me" (22:19).

At Passover, families remembered how God rescued Israel from Egypt. Now Jesus told his friends to keep doing what he had done. They should do it to remember him.

Two small words matter a lot here: "for you." Jesus did not say his body was given for good people, or for strong people. He said it was given for the friends right in front of him. Christians believe he says the same words to everyone who receives this meal today.

Modern

19And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Scene 4: The CupVerse 20

Scene by Scene

After supper, Jesus took the cup in the same way. He said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you" (22:20).

A covenant is a lasting promise that God makes. Hundreds of years before, God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah, "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31). In that promise, God said he would forgive their sins and remember them no more (Jeremiah 31:34).

Now Jesus said this new covenant would come through his blood. His blood would be poured out when he died.

Once more, Jesus said "for you."

On the first Passover night, the lamb's blood marked the homes God protected (Exodus 12:13). Now, at Passover, Jesus spoke about his own blood, poured out for his friends.

Modern

20In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

Scene 5: The Betrayer at the TableVerses 21 to 23

Scene by Scene

Then Jesus said something terrible. "Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table" (22:21). A betrayer is a friend who turns against you.

Jesus often called himself the Son of Man. He said the Son of Man would go "as it has been determined" (22:22). Then he said, "woe to that man who betrays Him" (22:22). Woe is a cry of deep sorrow and warning.

The friends began to ask each other which one of them would do this.

Here's what you know that the other friends did not: it was Judas. Earlier, Judas had made a deal with the chief priests to hand Jesus over. His hand was on the same table. He had been there for the bread and the cup.

Modern

21Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table. 22Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.” 23Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.

Scene 6: Who Is the Greatest?Verses 24 to 27

Scene by Scene

Then an argument started. The friends argued about which of them was the greatest.

They had heard about the body given for them. They had heard about a betrayer. Now they argued about who was most important.

Jesus answered them. "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them" (22:25). Gentiles are people who are not Jewish. To lord it over people means to boss them around. Those rulers called themselves benefactors, which means people who do good for others.

Then Jesus said, "But you shall not be like them" (22:26). He said the greatest among them should be like the youngest. The one who leads should be like the one who serves.

Jesus asked them which person is greater: the one eating at the table, or the one serving the food. Then he answered his own question. The one eating at the table is greater.

Then Jesus said, "But I am among you as one who serves" (22:27).

That very night, Jesus had handed them the bread and the cup. He was their teacher. He was also the one serving them.

Modern

24A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. 25So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. 26But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

Scene 7: A Promise for the FriendsVerses 28 to 30

Scene by Scene

Then Jesus said something kind to them. "You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials" (22:28). Trials here means hard times.

Jesus said he was giving them a kingdom, as his Father had given one to him. They would eat and drink at his table in his kingdom.

He said they would sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve tribes were the family groups of Israel, from the twelve sons of Jacob. Jesus was promising his friends a share in his kingdom.

Jesus made this promise right after their argument about who was greatest. He still gave it to them.

Modern

28You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials. 29And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me, 30so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Scene 8: "Simon, Simon"Verses 31 to 34

Scene by Scene

Then Jesus spoke to Peter. He used Peter's first name. "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat" (22:31).

Satan is the enemy of God and God's people. To sift wheat, a farmer shakes it hard in a sieve to separate the grain from everything else. This is a comparison. Satan wanted to shake all the friends hard, to see if their faith would fail.

Then Jesus spoke about Peter himself. "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail" (22:32).

Jesus added, "And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (22:32). Jesus said "when you have turned back," not "if."

Peter said, "Lord... I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death" (22:33).

Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me" (22:34).

Roosters crow at dawn. Before morning came, Peter would say three times that he did not know Jesus.

Peter was sure he would stay loyal to Jesus. That night, he would fail. But Jesus had already prayed for him.

Modern

31Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33“Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.” 34But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

Between scenesVerses 35 to 71

Scene by Scene

This part isn't retold as its own scene.

Modern

35Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36“Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered. 39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.” 41And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.” 47While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him. 52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.” 54Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance. 55When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said. 57But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said. 58A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60“Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62And he went outside and wept bitterly. 63The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. 64They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” 65And they said many other blasphemous things against Him. 66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said, 67“If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe. 68And if I ask you a question, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” 71“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”

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