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

LUKE 22:8KJV
Know the Bible

Luke 22:8 (KJV)

What does Luke 22:8 mean?

Luke 22:8 shows Jesus sending Peter and John to get everything ready for the Passover meal, so that he and his disciples can eat together. This verse highlights Jesus’ active role in arranging the Passover celebration, making sure the preparations are handled by two of his closest followers.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking directly to Peter and John, two of his most trusted disciples, and giving them a specific task just before the Last Supper. The Passover was a major Jewish festival, and Jesus’ instruction to “prepare us the passover” sets the stage for the important events that will follow, including his final teachings and the institution of the Lord’s Supper.

The Greek behind Luke 22:8

  • The word for “sent” is ἀπέστειλεν (apesteilen), which often means to send out with a purpose or mission. This shows Jesus giving Peter and John a clear assignment, not just a casual errand.
  • The word for “prepare” is ἑτοιμάσατε (hetoimasate), meaning to make ready or arrange. This suggests that getting ready for Passover involved careful work, not just showing up to eat.
  • The word for “passover” is πάσχα (pascha), which refers specifically to the Jewish festival meal remembering Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. This connects the scene to a deep tradition and hints at the significance of what is about to happen.

Why Luke 22:8 matters

  • Luke 22:8 clarifies that Jesus was intentional and organized about celebrating Passover, not leaving things to chance or treating the meal as unimportant.
  • This verse shows Peter and John being singled out for a special role, highlighting their closeness to Jesus and their reliability for important tasks.
  • By setting up the Passover meal, this verse leads directly into the events of the Last Supper, making it a key turning point in the story of Jesus’ final hours.

Where else these words appear

“passover” Greek G3957 · used in 27 verses

  • Matthew 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
  • Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
  • John 11:55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

“prepare” Greek G2090 · used in 40 verses

  • Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
  • Luke 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
  • John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

“eat” Greek G5315 · used in 90 verses

  • Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
  • Luke 6:4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
  • John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

“sent” Greek G649 · used in 130 verses

  • Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
  • Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
  • John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.