Luke 22 - Easy To Read Version

¹ It was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Unleavened Bread, {\cf2\super [339]} called the Passover. {\cf2\super [340]}

² The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a quiet way to kill Jesus. They were afraid of what the people would do to them.

³ One of Jesus’ twelve apostles {\cf2\super [341]} was named Judas Iscariot. Satan (the devil) went into Judas and made him do a bad thing.

⁴ Judas went and talked with the leading priests and some of the soldiers who guarded the temple. {\cf2\super [342]} Judas talked to them about a way to give Jesus to them.

⁵ The priests were very happy about this. They promised to give Judas money \{if he would give Jesus to them\}.

⁶ Judas 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.

⁷ The Day of Unleavened Bread {\cf2\super [343]} came. This was the day when the Jews always killed the lambs for the Passover. {\cf2\super [344]}

⁸ Jesus said to Peter and John, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat.”

⁹ Peter and John said to Jesus, “Where do you want us to prepare the meal?”

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.

¹¹ Tell 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 {\cf2\super [345]} meal.’

¹² Then the man who owns the house will show you a large room upstairs. This room is ready for us. Prepare the Passover meal there.”

¹³ So Peter and John left. Everything happened the way Jesus said. So they prepared the Passover {\cf2\super [346]} meal.

¹⁴ The time came for them to eat the Passover {\cf2\super [347]} meal. Jesus and the apostles {\cf2\super [348]} were together at the table.

¹⁵ Jesus said to them, “I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I die.

¹⁶ I will never eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ Then 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.

¹⁸ I will never drink wine again until God’s kingdom comes.”

¹⁹ Then Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for the bread and divided it. He gave it to the apostles. {\cf2\super [349]} Then Jesus said, “This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Eat this to remember me.”

²⁰ In 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.” {\cf2\super [350]}

²¹ Jesus said, “One of you will soon be against me. His hand is by my hand on the table.

²² The Son of Man {\cf2\super [351]} will do what God has planned. But it will be very bad for that person who gives the Son of Man \{to be killed\}.”

²³ Then the apostles {\cf2\super [352]} asked each other, “Which one of us would do that to Jesus?”

²⁴ Later the apostles {\cf2\super [353]} began to argue about which one of them was the most important.

²⁵ But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the world rule over their people. Men who have authority over other people make the people call them ‘great helpers \{of the people\}.’

²⁶ But you must not be like that. The greatest person should become like the youngest person! Leaders should be like servants.

²⁷ Who is more important: the person sitting at the table or the person serving him? You think the person sitting at the table is more important. But I am like a servant among you!

²⁸ “You men have stayed with me through many struggles.

²⁹ My Father has given me a kingdom. I also give you authority to rule with me.

³⁰ You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes (family groups) of Israel. {\cf2\super [354]}

³¹ “Satan (the devil) has asked to test you men like a farmer tests his wheat. O Simon, Simon (Peter),

³² I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me.”

³³ But Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go to jail with you. I will even die with you!”

³⁴ But Jesus said, “Peter, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say you don’t know me. You will say this three times!”

³⁵ Then Jesus said to the apostles, {\cf2\super [355]} “I sent you \{to tell people about God\}. I sent you without money, a bag, or shoes. But did you need anything?”

³⁶ Jesus said to them, “But now if you have money or a bag, carry that with you. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one.

³⁷ The Scripture {\cf2\super [356]} says:

^38-40 The followers said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords!”

⁴¹ Then Jesus went about 50 steps away from them. He kneeled down and prayed,

⁴² “Father, if it is what you want, then let me not have this cup {\cf2\super [358]} \{of suffering\}. But do what you want, not what I want.”

⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared. The angel was sent to help Jesus.

⁴⁴ Jesus was full of pain; he struggled hard in prayer. Sweat dripped from his face like he was bleeding. {\cf2\super [359]}

⁴⁵ When Jesus finished praying, he went to his followers. They were asleep. (Their sadness had made them very tired.)

⁴⁶ Jesus said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray for strength against temptation.”

⁴⁷ While Jesus was speaking, a group of people came. One of the twelve apostles {\cf2\super [360]} was leading the group. He was Judas. Judas came close to Jesus so that he could kiss Jesus.

⁴⁸ But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you using the kiss \{of friendship\} to give the Son of Man {\cf2\super [361]} \{to his enemies\}?”

⁴⁹ The followers of Jesus were standing there too. They saw what was happening. The followers said to Jesus, “Lord, should we use our swords?”

⁵⁰ And one of the followers did use his sword. He cut off the right ear of the servant of the high priest. {\cf2\super [362]}

⁵¹ Jesus said, “Stop!” Then Jesus touched the servant’s ear and healed him.

⁵² The group that came to arrest Jesus were the leading priests, the older Jewish leaders, and the Jewish soldiers. Jesus said to them, “Why did you come out here with swords and sticks? Do you think I am a criminal?

⁵³ I was with you every day in the temple {\cf2\super [363]} area. Why didn’t you try to arrest me there? But this is your time—the time when darkness (sin) rules.”

⁵⁴ They arrested Jesus and took him away. They brought Jesus into the house of the high priest. {\cf2\super [364]} Peter followed them, but he did not come near Jesus.

⁵⁵ The soldiers started a fire in the middle of the yard and sat together. Peter sat with them.

⁵⁶ A servant girl saw Peter sitting there. She could see because of the light from the fire. The girl looked closely at Peter’s face. Then she said, “This man was also with him (Jesus)!”

⁵⁷ But Peter said this was not true. He said, “Lady, I don’t know him.”

⁵⁸ A short time later, another person saw Peter and said, “You are also one of those people that follow him (Jesus).”

⁵⁹ About an hour later, another man said, “It is true! This man was with him (Jesus). He is from Galilee!” The man said he was sure about this.

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!”

⁶¹ Then the Lord (Jesus) turned and looked into Peter’s eyes. And Peter remembered what the Lord had said: “Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”

⁶² Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly.

⁶³ Some men were holding (guarding) Jesus. They made fun of Jesus and beat him.

⁶⁴ They covered his eyes so that he could not see them. Then they hit him and said, “Be a prophet {\cf2\super [365]} and tell us who hit you!”

⁶⁵ And they said many very bad things to Jesus.

⁶⁶ The next morning, the older leaders of the people, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law came together. They led Jesus away to their highest court.

⁶⁷ They said, “If you are the Christ, {\cf2\super [366]} then tell us that you are!”

⁶⁸ And if I ask you, you will not answer.

⁶⁹ But beginning now, the Son of Man {\cf2\super [367]} will sit at the right side of God’s throne.”

⁷⁰ They all said, “Then are you the Son of God?” Jesus said to them, “Yes, you are right when you say that I am.”

⁷¹ They said, “Why do we need witnesses now? We ourselves heard him say this!”