Luke 22:1

The magnificent drama of our Lord's Passion rapidly unfolds in this chapter. The Passover came on (Luke 22:1-2); Judas bargained to betray the Saviour (Luke 22:3-6); the last Supper was eaten (Luke 22:7-23); the apostles disputed about rank (Luke 22:24-30); Peter's denial was foretold (Luke 22:31-34); the changed condition of the apostles was announced (Luke 22:35-38); an angel strengthened the Lord in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46); Jesus was arrested (Luke 22:47-53); Peter denied him at the arraignment (Luke 22:54-62); the Lord was mocked (Luke 22:63-65); he was condemned to death by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71).

Now the feast of the unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death; for they feared the people. (Luke 22:1-2)

Feast of unleavened bread ... the Passover ... The terminology used here is strictly in keeping with the common usage of those times; but it is nevertheless rather loosely used. As Boles said:

The Passover, as used here, means either the meal, the feast day, or the whole period of time. "Eat the passover" refers to the meal, as here, or to the whole period of celebration in John 18:28.[1]

Furthermore, "the feast of unleavened bread" was used in several senses:

The feast of unleavened bread was the day the Passover lamb was slain. According to Mosaic law, this was called the Passover and was followed by seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:5,6). But at this time the whole period was known by this name. Josephus says: "We keep a feast for eight days, which is called the feast of unleavened bread."[2]

Gilmour, referring to the latter seven days of the feast said:

The feast of unleavened bread at sundown on Nisan 14 (which was) the beginning of the fifteenth day by Jewish reckoning, and lasted for a period of seven days (Leviticus 23:5,6). The Passover coincided only with its first day. The Paschal lambs were slaughtered on the afternoon of Nisan 14, and the solemn meal itself was eaten during the evening that constituted the beginning of the fifteenth day.[3]

The following chronological arrangement of the events of this exceedingly important week is adapted from J. R. Dummelow, with the changes required by understanding the crucifixion to have been on the 14th of Nisan, the same day the Paschal lambs were slain, and the same day when the Passover meal was eaten after sundown (technically the fifteenth of Nisan), that fourteenth of Nisan having been a Thursday. See my article, "What Day Was Jesus Crucified?" in my Commentary on Mark, under Mark 15:42.

A.D. 30

Sabbath, Nisan 9th ... Jesus arrived at Bethany (John 12:1), supper in the evening (John 12:2-8; Matthew 26:6-13).

Sunday, Nisan 10th ... triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1), children's Hosannas, healings in temple (Matthew 21:14-16), return to Bethany (Matthew 21:17).

Monday, Nisan 11th ... return from Bethany (Matthew 21:18), withering fig tree (Matthew 21:19), cleansing temple (Matthew 21:12), retires to Bethany (Mark 11:19), conspiracy of his enemies (Luke 19:47).

Tuesday, Nisan 12th ... they find fig tree withered (Mark 11:20), his authority challenged, tribute to Caesar, brother's wife, first commandment of all, and "What think ye of Christ?" (Matthew 21-22). Woes on Pharisees (Matthew 23), Jesus in treasury, the widow's mite (Mark 12:41), visit of Greeks (John 12:20), final rejection (John 12:37), triple prophecy of fall of Jerusalem, Second Advent and final judgment (Matthew 24-25), Counsel of Caiaphas (Matthew 26:3).

Wednesday, Nisan 13th ... in the afternoon preparations for the last supper (Matthew 26:17), that night (technically the 14th of Nisan), the last supper with the Twelve in the upper room (Matthew 26:20), the foot washing (John 13:2), departure of Judas, institution of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26), farewell discourses, the true vine, Comforter promised, intercessory prayer (John 13:31 through John 17), Gethsemane and the one-hour agony (Matthew 26:27; Mark 14:87).

Thursday, Nisan 14th ... midnight arrest (Matthew 26:47), before Annas (John 18:18), Peter's denials about 3:00 A.M. (John 18:27), before Caiphas (John 18:24), before Sanhedrin about 4:00 A.M. (Matthew 27:1), sent to Pilate at 6:00 A.M. (Matthew 27:2), from Pilate to Herod, and back to Pilate (Luke 28:7,11), delivered to be crucified (John 19:16) Jesus crucified at 9:00 A.M. (Mark 15:25), darkness from 12:00 to 3:00 P.M. (Matthew 27:45), death of Jesus at 3:00 P.M. (Matthew 27:50).

The paschal lambs were being sacrificed at this hour (John 19:36). Jesus was buried about sundown. That night was the Jewish Passover meal, Jesus having eaten it by anticipation 24 hours earlier. Burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57).

Friday, Nisan 15th ... Jesus was in the tomb.

Saturday, Nisan 16th ... Jesus was in the tomb.

Sunday, Nisan 17th ... Jesus rose from the dead.[4]

In the above understanding of the day our Lord was crucified, it is not necessary to suppose Wednesday as having been "a day of retirement,"[5] or that Wednesday, a day of rest, was apparently spent with the disciples at Bethany."[6] The New Testament says nothing of any day of rest or retirement; but, on the contrary, it is repeatedly stated that he was "daily in the temple" (Luke 22:53). "Every day he was teaching in the temple" (Luke 21:87); and there is no way such expressions can mean that Jesus ran off and hid for a whole day.

The following diagram will reveal the reason why "the third day" is frequently used by sacred authors to designate the day our Lord rose from the dead. Jesus' own promise that he would be in the heart of the earth "three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40) could not have been fulfilled in its entirety except by his resurrection at sunset on Sunday, which would have given three full days and three full nights in the grave; however, Jesus said that he would rise "the third day," meaning that he would not be in the grave but two days. Now look at the chart. He was buried at sunset on Thursday and rose very early on Sunday, the first day of the week.

<MONO><SIZE=2>Thursday Night Friday Night Saturday Night Sunday

period in the tomb -> 1st day 2nd day 3day beginsMONO>

The arguments in favor of viewing Friday as the day our Lord suffered have been thoroughly studied by this writer; and there seems to be no way that they can harmonize with "what is written" in the word of God. We believe that Jesus was in the heart of the earth "three days and three nights," rising on the third day.

Sought how they might put him to death ... The death of Jesus had long ago been determined by the hierarchy, and the thing in view here was merely the manner of their bringing it about. From Matthew 26:1-5 it is learned that they actually preferred to kill him secretly, because of their fear of the people, as mentioned here. However, the treachery of Judas induced them to change their plans.

[1] H. Leo Boles, Commentary on Luke (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1940), p. 411.

[2] Charles L. Childers, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press, 1964), Matthew, p. 233.

[3] S. MacLean Gilmour, The Interpreter's Bible (New York: Abingdon Press, 1952), Vol. VIII, Luke, p. 373.

[4] J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 692.

[5] Ibid.

[6] A. T. Robertson, A Harmony of the Gospels (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1922), p. 189.