Luke 22:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it."

NIV: Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."

NASB: And so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.'

CSB: Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."

NLT: Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, 'Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.'

KJV: And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

NKJV: And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

It is hours before Jesus and the disciples are to celebrate the Passover. The disciples only now ask Jesus where they should eat (Mark 14:12). Traditionally, they should eat in the temple courts. But by this time too many people come for the courts to hold them all, so families slay their lambs at the temple but feast elsewhere in the city.

Preparation doesn't just mean finding a lamb and slaughtering it. It means finding a room big enough for Jesus and all twelve disciples. They must collect oil, wine, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread. Tens of thousands—if not hundreds of thousands—of travelers have flooded Jerusalem. Peter and John don't seem too concerned about this; they've seen Jesus perform some pretty amazing miracles. They simply ask Jesus where they should meet (Luke 22:9).

This is the day before Passover. Peter and John will have to find a lamb and take it to the temple courts between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. to slaughter it. The meal must be ready by sunset: the beginning of Passover Day (Numbers 9:2–3).

This is the first mention of just Peter and John together. Until now, John's brother James and sometimes Peter's brother Andrew always accompanied them (Luke 8:51; 9:28; Mark 13:3). In the book of Acts, Peter and John will be together for significant events including the healing of a lame man at the temple, the first arrest of Jesus' disciples, and the mass conversion of Samaritans (Acts 3—4; 8:14–17).

Luke 22:7–13 is a preparation. The Sanhedrin has prepared for Jesus' arrest, and Judas is prepared for his betrayal of Christ (Luke 22:1–6). Now, Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare for the Passover dinner. The disciples have witnessed Jesus' supernatural knowledge, so of course they follow His oddly specific instructions and find a room already prepared for them. Matthew 26:17–19 and Mark 14:12–16 also record the preparations.

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke 23 continues Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod Antipas. He is then led to the cross where He forgives His murderers and saves a thief before He dies. In Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead, meets two disciples while they travel, and explains to them how the Old Testament prophesied the death of the Messiah. In the final scene of the gospel, Jesus is reunited with His disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.