Luke recorded more details of these preparations than the other synoptic evangelists. Against the backdrop of a plot to arrest Him, Jesus comes across as the one who is in control and is quietly directing the events leading to the Cross (cf. 19:29-35).
22:7 The Jews slew their Passover lamb on the fourteenth of Nisan and ate it after sundown. Sundown began the fifteenth. The fourteenth would have been Thursday until sundown. This verse marks the transition to Thursday from Wednesday, the day on which Jesus had His controversy with the leaders in the temple and gave the Olivet Discourse. This is another of Luke's benchmarks that signals Jesus' relentless movement toward the Cross.
Luke evidently referred to this day as the day of unleavened bread because it was the first day of the combined feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread. The Jews referred to the whole period as the feast of Unleavened Bread sometimes and as the Passover sometimes (cf. 2:42; 22:1; Acts 12:3-4).
22:8-9 Only Luke recorded the names of the disciples whom Jesus sent to prepare for the Passover meal. Peter and John, of course, later became Jesus' chief servants as leaders of the Christians in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 3:1-2; 8:14). This detail ties the Gospel and Acts together. Luke also stressed Jesus' initiation of plans to observe the Passover. These plans were confidential to avoid premature arrest.
22:10-12 It was unusual for men to carry pitchers of water. Usually women did and men carried water in leather skins.469This appears to have been a prearranged signal that was part of Jesus' plan to avoid premature arrest. Judas would not have known where the upper room was since Jesus informed Peter and John of its location as He did. The title "teacher"(Gr. didaskalos) was one that Jesus' disciples used to describe Him (cf. 6:40). Evidently the owner of the upper room was a disciple. The upper room probably stood on the flat roof of a typical Palestinian house and served as an extra room. It would have been accessible by an external stair. The owner would have furnished it with cushions for reclining on at least.470Traditionally the upper room was on Mt. Zion just to the north and east of the Hinnom Valley.471
22:13 This verse underlines Jesus' sovereign control. It also sets the stage for what follows.
