There has been a widely accepted premise by many that Jesus’s Last Supper was a Passover observance. It has been thought that this was at the beginning of the 14th of the first month (which would have begun at sunset) with the Jewish Passover being observed 24 hours later. What if that premise is not accurate? What if that “Last Supper” was just that, a last supper or meal and perhaps occurring at least a day earlier? It this were true then perhaps the beliefs and views now held by many would have to be reevaluated. In this study we won’t be able to address every question, argument or “unclear” Scripture. But we will try to honestly look at what the Gospels tell us of Jesus’s last hours. And, perhaps we may find that the length of His Passion was longer than we have assumed!
Mark, in his gospel account, tells us that Jesus was crucified at the 3rd hour (Mark 15:25), which as we reckon time was 9:00 A.M. He further tells us that at the 6th hour, noon, there was darkness over the whole land until the 9th hour (verse 33). And, verses 34-37 tell us that Jesus died at the 9th hour, 3:00 P.M. What transpired between the time of the last supper and Jesus’s crucifixion at 9:00 A.M. on the morning of His death?
All of the gospel accounts agree that following the meal, Jesus’s instruction regarding the bread and wine, and other teaching, they went out to the Mount of Olives where He often went. (Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39) When they came to a place called Gethsemane He went apart from the apostles to pray. Mark recounts that Jesus came back, found the apostles sleeping, and went back to pray two more times. (Mark 14:32-42)
Here are some questions we need to try and answer. How long did the “supper” last? How long did it take to reach the Mount of Olives? How long did Jesus pray each time?
We do know that Jesus spent a great deal of time instructing the apostles after Judas left, which was after the supper was ended (John 13:2). (Some feel this would be better translated ‘during supper.’) Most of John chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16 cover Jesus’s instructions. It must have taken some amount of time. If they gathered for supper at 6:00 P.M., the beginning of the day and a reasonable time for supper, it seems probable that a minimum of an hour was spent eating and in conversation. “Communion” in many churches may take only a few minutes but in some churches that observe a “New Testament Passover” services normally take from 1 to 1 ½ hours. The Jewish Seder takes several hours. It is doubtful that Jesus’s instructions would have taken any less than 1 to 1 ½ hours, probably more. At the earliest they would have left for the Mount of Olives at 8:00 P.M., but probably a bit later, maybe 8:30-9:00 P.M.
How long would their walk to the Mount of Olives have taken? Our assumption has been that this supper was eaten in the “large upper room” but we do not know the exact starting point. A fairly safe guess would be that they were in Jerusalem or the immediate area. Acts 1:12 references the distance from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives as a “Sabbath day’s journey.” The margin says 3/5th of a mile. The Davis Bible dictionary says, “A Sabbath-day’s journey was a journey of limited extent proper, in the estimation of the scribes, on a Sabbath day. The expression occurs in Acts 1:12, where this is stated to be the distance between mount Olivet and Jerusalem, or from Jerusalem to a place on the mountain from which Bethany was visible (Luke 24:50). If the measurement be made from the eastern gate of Jerusalem (the Jewish method of reckoning) to the site of the church of the Ascension, crowning the mount of Olives, the distance, as the crow flies, will be about 2250 English feet; but in actual travel it will be considerably more.” A fairly conservative estimate would be at least 15 minutes to walk this distance. I believe we can very honestly say that it would have been somewhere near 9:00 P.M., at least, when they arrived at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.
Can we assess the time Jesus spent in prayer to His Father the three separate times? We do know that Jesus, upon finding the apostles asleep when He returned from praying asked, “Couldest not thou watch one hour?” (Mark 14:37; Matt. 26:40) Knowing the enormous trial He was facing and the agony He would soon be experiencing, it would not be too great of a stretch to estimate that Christ spent a minimum of one hour each time. When this is added onto the time they would have arrived at the Mount of Olives we can determine that it is now around midnight.
Immediately thereafter, we are told, Judas and the multitude came to take Jesus. Undoubtedly some amount of time elapsed during the confusion that took place. John 18:6 tells us the whole group went backward and fell to the ground. This wasn’t something that happened everyday and would have taken a few minutes to get everyone regrouped. Following this Peter took the sword he was carrying and cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. (John 18:10) We know that Jesus touched the ear and healed him. (Luke 22:51) Again, a few minutes of turmoil. The apostles were frightened and dropped back and fled. (Mark 14:50) By now it likely would have been close to 12:30 A.M.
Several of the gospel accounts tell us that Jesus was taken to Caiaphas, the high priest. But, John reveals that prior to this He was led away first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. John 18:13, “And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.” Although Annas was no longer an officiating high priest, having been deposed by the procurator of Judea, Valerius Gratus about 16 A.D., he was yet the most influential priest and so it was to him that Jesus was first taken. Annas would have been back in the city, another 15 minute walk. And, it would have required a few minutes to wake him, explain to him what was going on (even though he probably was aware of the plan to take Jesus) and for him to decide to send Jesus on to Caiaphas. A conservative estimate of another 15 minutes or more passing before he sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas would seem appropriate. By our estimates it would now have been at least 1:00 A.M.
How far from Annas’ home to Caiaphas’ palace isn’t known but another few minutes would have been required. Perhaps close to another 15 minutes were expended. It would now be 1:15 A.M.
When they arrived we find revealed in Luke 22 that they all, the chief priest and captains of the temple and the elders (vs. 52, 55), sat down together after a fire had been kindled in the midst of the hall. Luke reveals that Peter sat among them. How long did this all take to get a fire started and for everyone to get settled in? Some little time I’m sure, easily 30-45 minutes. It would now be near 2:00 A.M.
Luke tells of Peter’s denial (Luke 22:56-62). In verse 57, in response to the maid’s statement, we are told that Peter denied Jesus. Verse 58 says “and after a little while” when another said Peter was with them, Peter denied Jesus again. How long was a “little while?” Maybe another 15 minutes? Our time would now be nearing 2:15 A.M.
Now let us notice verse 59. “ 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.” Peter then denied Jesus a third time, verse 60. When the cock crowed Jesus turned to look at Peter, verse 61. It would have been somewhere near 3:15 A.M. or later. At this time Jesus was still in the midst of this hall or court area and was not inside. The cock crowing is one of the more famous stories in the Gospels. However, there is one problem with the translation. During the time of the temple in Jerusalem chickens were not allowed in the city. To assure that chickens would not find their way into the temple, or worse yet, into the Holy of Holies, the priests simply forbid everyone in Jerusalem from having chickens. (This has been confirmed by the Jewish Mishnah Bava Kama 7.7. Other historians and commentators have pointed this out.) The “rooster” or “cock” that was heard was not a bird at all but a man. That man was a priest at the temple who had the responsibility of unlocking the temple doors each and every morning before dawn. He was known as the Temple Crier. The Greek term, alekor, (Luke 22:34), which means, “cock,” can also mean “man, husband.” The Hebrew word gever, translated “cock” or “rooster,” also means “man” like the Greek alektor. As he unlocked the door each morning he would cry out three statements in a loud voice: “All the priest prepare to sacrifice.” “All the Levites to their stations.” “All the Israelites come to worship.” The timing would have perhaps been closer to 5:00 or 6:00 A.M. From what we see in this narrative everyone is sitting around waiting, evidently for morning and the business day to begin. While they are waiting, Luke tells us that those holding Jesus began to mock Him and to strike Him. (Luke 22:63-65)
Some may feel that there would have been an emergency meeting of the council in those very early morning hours. That would have also taken a great deal of time. Many don’t realize that the council was made up of 70 people in addition to the high priest. It would have been a very time consuming job to send messengers to wake each one. And, then for those individuals to get up and get ready and finally all arrive at the palace for a meeting would have consumed a vast amount of time.
Then verse 66 of Luke 22 reveals more of the time line. “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,...” The word translated “was” is better rendered “became” or “had become.” The word “day” in the English is from the Greek “hemera,” #2250 in Strong’s. It is defined, “the day, used of the natural day, or interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.” The reckoning of the day beginning would be approximately 6:00 A.M. Matthew says (chapter 27:1) “When morning was come...” Mark says, (chapter 15:1) “straightway in the morning...”
Finally Jesus was led in and questioned. Mark tells us that they sought for witnesses against Him (Mark 14:55). This would have also taken some time, maybe an hour or more, maybe two. It would have now been 7:00-8:00 A.M. Following this hour or two with the council Jesus was led away to Pontius Pilate, the governor (Matt. 27:2; Luke 23:1; Mark 15:1; John 18:28). Another few minutes would have been required to get there. And for those taking him to explain why they were there would have taken a few more minutes. It definitely would have been after 8:00 A.M. by now.
Pilate heard the accusations (Luke 22:2) of the multitude. He then began to ask Jesus about the accusations, verse 3. He ruled that he did not find any fault in Jesus, verse 4. The multitude was “more fierce,” verse 5, in their response to Pilate’s ruling. Pilate then decided to send Jesus to Herod. How much time was spent with Pilate? A conservative estimate of an hour would seem in line. It would now be approximately 9:00 A.M.
A few minutes more would have been necessary to move on to Herod’s home. Yet another few minutes to introduce the situation to Herod would have been necessary. Maybe another 30 minutes would have passed. Herod was glad to see Jesus (Luke 23:8) and even hoped to see a miracle. Verse 9 says he “questioned with Him in many words,” an indication that this was not a brief 10 minute meeting. Very easily another hour was taken up. By now the time would have been 10:30 A.M.
What happened next? Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate (Luke 23:11). Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers of the people (verse 13). Maybe another hour is spent in all of this. By now it would have been near 11:30 A.M. Pilate reviewed with them that he had found no fault in Jesus and that Herod also had not found anything worthy of death (verses 14-15). He tried to persuade them to let him release Jesus. He finally gave in to their demands when he saw he couldn’t prevail but washed his hands before them all declaring himself innocent of Jesus’s blood (Matt. 27:24). Sensing the depth of belief that Jesus was innocent and the effort he made to try and get the multitude to back down it would be dishonest to think this all transpired in a few brief minutes. Very likely this took a couple of hours or so. It would not seem inappropriate to think the time would easily have been 1:00-2:00 P.M. by now.
Before we go through the events which followed Pilate’s finally agreeing to their demands and sentencing Jesus to be crucified we can immediately see that we have a major problem with our time
line. We are now into the early afternoon of the day following Jesus’s last supper with His apostles and He has yet to be scourged and crucified. And, we know from the scriptures we rehearsed earlier that Jesus was crucified at 9:00 A.M. This day of His “trial” must of necessity be earlier than the day of His crucifixion. We are seeing that the last supper could not have been eaten on the early hours of the 14th and Jesus killed on the afternoon of the 14th of the month, the time of the Jewish Passover.
When Pilate finally gave in to the demands of the crowd and had washed his hands and declared his innocence he had Jesus scourged before sending Him on to be crucified (John 19:1; Mark 15:15; Matt. 27:26). No details are given pertaining to the scourging. However, much can be read in commentaries, Bible dictionaries, etc. Although, the act of scourging may have taken but a fairly short time, the preparation of the prisoner (Jesus), bringing in the trained individual to administer it, letting the one who endured this beating (Jesus) “recover” somewhat all took some time. Another 30 minutes to an hour very likely passed while Jesus went through this part of His ordeal.
The governor’s soldiers then took Him to the common hall (Matt. 27:27). And, notice, it says “they gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers”. A band or cohort. Notice what Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words says concerning a band, “It was also used for a larger body of men, a cohort, about 600 infantry, commanded by a tribune. It is confined to its military sense. See, e.g., Matt. 27:27, and corresponding passages.” This must have taken up some little time to round up all 600 of them from all the areas in the city where they were on duty. By now, it would very likely have been somewhere between 3:00-4:00 P.M. or maybe a bit later.
We read that now the soldiers were allowed to mock and harass Jesus. He was stripped and had a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns they had made put on Him. They spit on Him, hit and beat Him. This surely continued for some time, probably until they began to tire of their cruel games, near the end of the day or around 6:00 P.M. (Matt. 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20) Luke and John do not mention Jesus’s treatment at the hands of the soldiers. All of the gospel accounts move immediately to Him being led away to be crucified. When did this occur? Since we know He was actually crucified about 9:00 A.M. this would have had to occur sometime in the early morning. Of necessity Jesus was kept under guard or in some kind of a cell during the night following His scourging and the cruel mistreatment at the hands of the soldiers. He, frankly, endured more pain and suffering than most of us have realized.
In the gospel account of the apostle John we are told that after the scourging and the soldier’s mistreatment of Jesus Pilate again attempted to prevent Jesus from being killed. John 19:4-8,
“Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify [him], crucify [him]. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify [him]: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;” Notice verse 4, “went forth again.” Continuing in verses 9-12 Pilate returned to Jesus and spoke further with Him. Following this discussion he brought Jesus out (verse 13). Here we are given a time, John 19:14, “And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!” As most of us have noticed, John gives a different reckoning of time. Some say he refers to the hours from the beginning of the 24 hour day or from 6:00 P.M. The 6th hour as given here would equate to midnight. Others feel the time was reckoned from mid-night putting the sixth hour at 6:00 A.M. It is clear that Pilate tried throughout the night until at least midnight to keep Jesus from being killed, maybe all night. So, we are told that after all of his efforts fail he finally delivers Him to be crucified.
The gospel accounts do not tell us the exact time but knowing the crucifixion occurred at 9:00 A.M., it is not logical to suppose He was led out until daylight, 6:00 A.M. or later.
When Jesus was led away He was forced to carry the cross or stake He would be crucified on (John 19:17). We are told in the other gospels that Simon, a Cyreanian, was conscripted to carry it. Apparently Jesus was so weakened that He was unable to continue. He was taken to Golgotha, the place of the skull, and was crucified with two thieves at 9:00 A.M. (Mark 15:25).
When we look at and put together all the clear scriptural evidence that has been preserved by the four gospel writers we can not help but determine that the last meal, the “last supper,” could not have been eaten the previous evening to Jesus’s crucifixion and death. If we are honest with the Scriptures we must conclude that the passion of Jesus Christ was much longer than we have thought, not just 15 or 16 hours but more than likely closer to 40 hours, 40 being the number of trial and testing.
3/18/2011, latest revision 1/7/2020
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