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Luke 22

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

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

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

What does Luke 22:23 mean?

Explanation

Luke 22:23 presents a scene where the disciples are at the Last Supper with Jesus, who has just revealed that one of them will betray Him. This revelation causes confusion and concern among the disciples, leading them to question among themselves who the traitor could be.

The verse captures the emotion of the moment, shock, fear, and the beginning of suspicion.

While the text does not explicitly state it, it implies a feeling of introspection among the disciples as each wonders whether it could possibly be himself or another who would commit such an act against their teacher and friend.

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Historical Context

The verse in question comes from the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, written around 80-110 A.D.

The Gospel of Luke is believed to have been written by Luke, a companion of the Apostle Paul.

This narrative occurs during the Jewish festival of Passover, in which Jesus and his disciples gathered to share a meal.

Passover is a significant event commemorating the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery.

In this setting, Jesus' prediction of betrayal would have been particularly poignant as it invoked themes of liberation and deliverance, alongside the immediate reality of impending betrayal within his inner circle.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, the account of Jesus predicting his betrayal fulfills Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah being betrayed by a close companion (Psalm 41:9).

This event is also seen as part of God's divine plan for the redemption of humanity through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Different theological traditions may emphasize varying aspects of this scene.

For instance, some may focus on the omniscience of Jesus, His divine knowledge of future events, others on the free will of Judas Iscariot and the other disciples, and how this incident illustrates the tension between God's sovereignty and human choice.

Practical Applications

This verse invites reflection on trust, loyalty, and self-examination.

It encourages individuals to consider their own potential for betrayal in relationships and allegiances.

It can be applied in daily life by fostering honesty and integrity in one's actions and interactions with others.

Practically, this verse can teach the importance of understanding one's vulnerabilities and the impact of one's actions on the broader community.

Cross-References

Matthew 26:21-22: "And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?"

Mark 14:18-19: "And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? And another said, Is it I?"

Psalm 41:9: "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."

Language Study

The Greek words in this verse, especially in the phrase "began to inquire among themselves" (ἐσκεπτόμησαν πρὸς ἑαυτούς), convey an in-depth self-questioning or examination.

The word "ἐσκεπτόμησαν" (eskeptomēsan) is translated as "began to inquire," indicating a conversation filled with concern and inquiry that was not taken lightly.

The term illustrates the gravity with which the disciples took Jesus' words, as well as their inner turmoil and deep concern.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures and religions, the theme of betrayal by a close companion is a recurring one.

In Greek mythology, for example, characters such as Icarus and Daedalus experience betrayal.

In the context of other religious traditions, such as Judaism, betrayal is also considered a grave sin, as seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers in the Book of Genesis.

Comparing these themes highlights the universality of betrayal as a human experience and the importance of loyalty and trust in communal relationships.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology might analyze this verse from the perspective of group dynamics and the stress response to perceived threats within a tight-knit community.

When faced with the idea of betrayal, individuals often experience cognitive and emotional stress, leading to behaviors aimed at identifying and addressing the threat.

This verse can prompt discussions about how people process information related to trust and betrayal, and the instinctive mechanisms for self-preservation and moral decision-making.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentaries interpret Luke 22:23 with an emphasis on different aspects of the narrative.

For example, the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges highlights the natural horror and bewilderment that would arise in the minds of the Eleven true disciples since the notion of betrayal was so foreign to their loyalty to Christ.

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes the distress that was upon Christ's own spirit in relation to this treachery.

According to the Pulpit Commentary, the astonishment and anxiety depicted represent the simplicity and honesty of the disciples, contrasting with the cunning that lay in the heart of the traitor.

Many commentaries also point out that the self-examination this verse provokes in the disciples is a model for all believers' self-scrutiny in the face of sin and wrongdoing.

Luke 22

Luke 22

What does Luke 22:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 22:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?