1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. 3Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, being numbered among the twelve. 4So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and commanders, how he might deliver Him to them. 5And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6So he promised and sought opportunity to deliver Him to them away from the multitude. 7Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8And He sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat. 9So they said to Him, Where do You want us to prepare? 10And He said to them, Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11Then you shall say to the master of the house, The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples? 12And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready. 13So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 14And when the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15And He said to them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18for I say to you, I will not drink from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God has come. 19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. 20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. 21But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. 22And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! 23Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it might be who was about to do this thing. 24And there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered greater. 25And He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. 26But not so among you; rather, he who is greater among you, let him be as the younger, and he who leads as he who serves. 27For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29And I appoint a kingdom to you, as My Father appointed unto Me, 30that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon. Behold, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, that your faith does not fail; and when you have returned, strengthen your brethren. 33But he said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death. 34Then He said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me. 35And He said to them, When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything? And they said, Nothing. 36Then He said to them, But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: And He was numbered with the transgressors. For the things concerning Me have an end. 38And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And He said to them, It is enough. 39And coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40And when He came to the place, He said to them, Pray that you do not enter into temptation. 41And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42saying, Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. 43Then an angel appeared to Him from Heaven, strengthening Him. 44And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45And when He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46And He said to them, Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, that you do not enter into temptation. 47And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48But Jesus said to him, Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? 49When those around Him saw what was about to happen, they said to Him, Lord, shall we strike with the sword? 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus answered and said, Permit even this. And He touched his ear and healed him. 52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, commanders of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against Me. But this is your hour, and the authority of darkness. 54And having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed at a distance. 55Now when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, This man was also with Him. 57But he denied Him, saying, Woman, I do not know Him. 58And after a little while another saw him and said, You also are of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. 59Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, Truly this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean. 60But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are saying. Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. 62And Peter went out and wept bitterly. 63Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. 64And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You? 65And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him. 66And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67If You are the Christ, tell us. But He said to them, If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God. 70Then they all said, Are You then the Son of God? And He said to them, You affirm that I AM. 71And they said, What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 CONSPIRACY OF THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES TO PUT JESUS TO DEATH--COMPACT WITH JUDAS. (
Λουκ. 22:1-
Λουκ. 22:6)
(See on
Ματθ. 26:1-
Ματθ. 26:5.)
3 Then entered Satan, &c.--but not yet in the full sense. The awful stages of it were these: (1) Covetousness being his master--passion, the Lord let it reveal itself and gather strength by entrusting him with "the bag" (
Ιωάν. 12:6), as treasurer to Himself and the Twelve. (2) In the discharge of that most sacred trust he became "a thief," appropriating its contents from time to time to his own use. Satan, seeing this door into his heart standing wide open, determines to enter by it, but cautiously (
2Κορ. 2:11); first merely "putting it into his heart to betray Him" (
Ιωάν. 13:2), suggesting the thought to him that by this means he might enrich himself. (3) This thought was probably converted into a settled purpose by what took place in Simon's house at Bethany. (See
Ματθ. 26:6, and see on
Ιωάν. 12:4-
Ιωάν. 12:8.) (4) Starting back, perhaps, or mercifully held back, for some time, the determination to carry it into immediate effect was not consummated till, sitting at the paschal supper, "Satan entered into him" (see on
Ιωάν. 13:27), and conscience, effectually stifled, only rose again to be his tormentor. What lessons in all this for every one (
Εφεσ. 4:27;
Ιακ. 4:7;
1Πέτ. 5:8-9)!
5 money--"thirty pieces of silver" (
Ματθ. 26:15); thirty shekels, the fine payable for man- or maid-servant accidentally killed (
Έξ. 21:32), and equal to between four and five pounds of our money--"a goodly price that I was priced at of them" (
Ζαχ. 11:13). (See on
Ιωάν. 19:16.)
6 in the absence, &c.--(See
Ματθ. 26:5).
7 LAST PASSOVER--INSTITUTION OF THE SUPPER--DISCOURSE AT THE TABLE. (Luke 22:7-38)
the day of unleavened bread--strictly the fifteenth Nisan (part of our March and April) after the paschal lamb was killed; but here, the fourteenth (Thursday). Into the difficult questions raised on this we cannot here enter.
10 when ye are entered the city--He Himself probably stayed at Bethany during the day.
there shall a man, &c.--(See on
Λουκ. 19:29-
Λουκ. 19:32).
14 the hour--about six P.M. Between three and this hour the lamb was killed (
Έξ. 12:6, Margin)
15 With desire . . . desired--"earnestly have I longed" (as
Γέν. 31:30, "sore longedst"). Why? It was to be His last "before He suffered"--and so became "Christ our Passover sacrificed for us" (
1Κορ. 5:7), when it was "fulfilled in the Kingdom of God," the typical ordinance thenceforth disappearing.
17 took the cup--the first of several partaken of in this service.
divide it among, &c.--that is, It is to be your last as well as Mine, "until the Kingdom of God come," or as it is beautifully given in
Ματθ. 26:29, "until that day when I shall drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." It was the point of transition between two economies and their two great festivals, the one about to close for ever, the other immediately to open and run its majestic career until from earth it be transferred to heaven.
21 (See on
Ιωάν. 13:21, &c.).
24 there was--or "had been," referring probably to some symptoms of the former strife which had reappeared, perhaps on seeing the whole paschal arrangements committed to two of the Twelve. (See on
Μάρκ. 10:42-
Μάρκ. 10:45.)
25 benefactors--a title which the vanity of princes eagerly coveted.
26 But ye . . . not--Of how little avail has this condemnation of "lordship" and vain titles been against the vanity of Christian ecclesiastics?
28 continued, &c.--affecting evidence of Christ's tender susceptibility to human sympathy and support! (See on
Ιωάν. 6:66-
Ιωάν. 6:67; see
Ιωάν. 16:32.)
29 I appoint, &c.--Who is this that dispenses kingdoms, nay, the Kingdom of kingdoms, within an hour or two of His apprehension, and less than a day of His shameful death? These sublime contrasts, however, perpetually meet and entrance us in this matchless history.
30 eat and drink, &c.--(See
Λουκ. 22:16 and see on
Λουκ. 18:28, &c.).
31 Simon, Simon--(See on
Λουκ. 10:41).
desired to have--rather, "hath obtained you," properly "asked and obtained"; alluding to Job (
Ιώβ 1:6-
Ιώβ 1:12;
Ιώβ 2:1-
Ιώβ 2:6), whom he solicited and obtained that he might sift him as wheat, insinuating as "the accuser of the brethren" (
Αποκ. 12:10), that he would find chaff enough in his religion, if indeed there was any wheat at all.
you--not Peter only, but them all.
32 But I have prayed--have been doing it already.
for thee--as most in danger. (See on
Λουκ. 22:61-
Λουκ. 22:62.)
fail not--that is, entirely; for partially it did fail.
converted--brought back afresh as a penitent disciple.
strengthen, &c.--that is, make use of thy bitter experience for the fortifying of thy tempted brethren.
33 I am ready, &c.--honest-hearted, warmly-attached disciple, thinking thy present feelings immovable as a rock, thou shalt find them in the hour of temptation unstable as water: "I have been praying for thee," therefore thy faith shall not perish; but thinking this superfluous, thou shalt find that "he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool" (
Παρ. 28:26).
34 cock . . . crow--"twice" (
Μάρκ. 14:30).
35 But now--that you are going forth not as before on a temporary mission, provided for without purse or scrip, but into scenes of continued and severe trial, your methods must be different; for purse and scrip will now be needed for support, and the usual means of defense.
37 the things concerning me--decreed and written.
have an end--are rapidly drawing to a close.
38 two swords . . . enough--they thinking He referred to present defense, while His answer showed He meant something else.
39 AGONY IN THE GARDEN. (
Λουκ. 22:39-
Λουκ. 22:46)
as . . . wont--(See
Ιωάν. 18:2).
40 the place--the Garden of Gethsemane, on the west or city side of the mount. Comparing all the accounts of this mysterious scene, the facts appear to be these: (1) He bade nine of the Twelve remain "here" while He went and prayed "yonder." (2) He "took the other three, Peter, James, and John, and began to be sore amazed [appalled], sorrowful, and very heavy [oppressed], and said, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death"--"I feel as if nature would sink under this load, as if life were ebbing out, and death coming before its time"--"tarry ye here, and watch with Me"; not, "Witness for Me," but, "Bear Me company." It did Him good, it seems, to have them beside Him. (3) But soon even they were too much for Him: He must be alone. "He was withdrawn from them about a stone's-cast"--though near enough for them to be competent witnesses and kneeled down, uttering that most affecting prayer (
Μάρκ. 14:36), that if possible "the cup," of His approaching death, "might pass from Him, but if not, His Father's will be done": implying that in itself it was so purely revolting that only its being the Father's will would induce Him to taste it, but that in that view of it He was perfectly prepared to drink it. It is no struggle between a reluctant and a compliant will, but between two views of one event--an abstract and a relative view of it, in the one of which it was revolting, in the other welcome. By signifying how it felt in the one view, He shows His beautiful oneness with ourselves in nature and feeling; by expressing how He regarded it in the other light, He reveals His absolute obediential subjection to His Father. (4) On this, having a momentary relief, for it came upon Him, we imagine, by surges, He returns to the three, and finding them sleeping, He addresses them affectingly, particularly Peter, as in
Μάρκ. 14:37-
Μάρκ. 14:38. He then (5) goes back, not now to kneel, but fell on His face on the ground, saying the same words, but with this turn, "If this cup may not pass," &c. (
Ματθ. 26:42) --that is, 'Yes, I understand this mysterious silence (
Ψαλ. 22:1-
Ψαλ. 22:6); it may not pass; I am to drink it, and I will'--"Thy will be done!" (6) Again, for a moment relieved, He returns and finds them "sleeping for sorrow," warns them as before, but puts a loving construction upon it, separating between the "willing spirit" and the "weak flesh." (7) Once more, returning to His solitary spot, the surges rise higher, beat more tempestuously, and seem ready to overwhelm Him. To fortify Him for this, "there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven strengthening Him"--not to minister light or comfort (He was to have none of that, and they were not needed nor fitted to convey it), but purely to sustain and brace up sinking nature for a yet hotter and fiercer struggle. And now, He is "in an agony, and prays more earnestly"--even Christ's prayer, it seems, admitted of and now demanded such increase--"and His sweat was as it were great drops [literally, 'clots'] of blood falling down to the ground." What was this? Not His proper sacrificial offering, though essential to it. It was just the internal struggle, apparently hushing itself before, but now swelling up again, convulsing His whole inner man, and this so affecting His animal nature that the sweat oozed out from every pore in thick drops of blood, falling to the ground. It was just shuddering nature and indomitable will struggling together. But again the cry, If it must be, Thy will be done, issues from His lips, and all is over. "The bitterness of death is past." He has anticipated and rehearsed His final conflict, and won the victory--now on the theater of an invincible will, as then on the arena of the Cross. "I will suffer," is the grand result of Gethsemane: "It is finished" is the shout that bursts from the Cross. The Will without the Deed had been all in vain; but His work was consummated when He carried the now manifested Will into the palpable Deed, "by the which WILL we are sanctified THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE FOR ALL" (
Εβρ. 10:10). (8) At the close of the whole scene, finding them still sleeping (worn out with continued sorrow and racking anxiety), He bids them, with an irony of deep emotion, "sleep on now and take their rest, the hour is come, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners, rise, let us be going, the traitor is at hand." And while He spoke, Judas approached with his armed band. Thus they proved "miserable comforters," broken reeds; and thus in His whole work He was alone, and "of the people there was none with Him."
61 JESUS BEFORE CAIAPHAS--FALL OF PETER. (
Λουκ. 22:55-
Λουκ. 22:62)
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter--(Also see on
Μάρκ. 14:72.)
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly--(Also see on
Μάρκ. 14:72.)