Luke 22:1-23 : Easy-to-Read Version
The Jewish Leaders Want to Kill Jesus
22 1It was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Unleavened Bread,* called the Passover.* 2The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a way to kill Jesus. But they were afraid of the people.
Judas Makes Plans Against Jesus
3One of Jesus' twelve apostles* was named Judas Iscariot. Satan (the devil) went into Judas and made him do a bad thing. 4Judas went and talked with the leading priests and some of the soldiers who guarded the temple.* Judas talked to them about a way to give Jesus to them. 5The priests were very happy about this. They promised to give Judas money [if he would give Jesus to them]. 6Judas agreed. Then Judas waited for the best time to give Jesus to them. Judas wanted to do it when there were no people around to see him do it.
Preparation of the Passover Meal
7The Day of Unleavened Bread* came. This was the day when the Jews sacrificed* the Passover* lambs. 8Jesus said to Peter and John, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat." 9Peter and John said to Jesus, "Where do you want us to prepare the meal?" Jesus said to them, 10"Listen! After you go into the city (Jerusalem), you will see a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him. He will go into a house. You go with him. 11Tell the person that owns that house, 'The Teacher asks that you please show us the room where he and his followers can eat the Passover* meal.' 12Then the man who owns the house will show you a large room upstairs. This room is ready for you. Prepare the Passover meal there." 13So Peter and John left. Everything happened the way Jesus said. So they prepared the Passover* meal.
The Lord's Supper
14The time came for them to eat the Passover* meal. Jesus and the apostles* were together at the table. 15Jesus said to them, "I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I die. 16I will never eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God." 17Then Jesus took a cup of wine. He gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, "Take this cup and give it to everyone here. 18I will never drink wine again until God's kingdom comes." 19Then Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for the bread and divided it. He gave it to the apostles.* Then Jesus said, "This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Do this to remember me." 20In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup of wine and said, "This wine shows the new agreement [from God to his people]. This new agreement begins with my blood (death) that I am giving for you."*
Who Will Turn Against Jesus?
21Jesus said, "One of you will soon be against me. His hand is by my hand on the table. 22The Son of Man* will do what God has planned. But it will be very bad for that person who gives the Son of Man [to be killed]." 23Then the apostles* asked each other, "Which one of us would do that to Jesus?"
Festival of Unleavened Bread An important Jewish holiday week. In the Old Testament it began the day after Passover, but by this time the two holidays had become one. Passover An important Jewish holy day. The Jews ate a special meal on this day every year to remember that God freed them from slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses. apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. Day of Unleavened Bread Same as Passover. sacrificed To sacrifice is to kill something as a gift to God. Verses 19-20 A few Greek copies do not have Jesus' words in the last part of verse 19 and all of verse 20. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people.