When Was the Last Supper? Harmonizing the account in John with those in the other Gospels These slides are closely adapted from charts by Tim Harris on his web site, www.chasingalion.com

The Passover was kept the evening between Nisan 14 and 15. Now you shall keep [the Passover lamb] until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. (Ex. 12:6) The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on Nisan 15 and continued through Nisan 21. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. (Lev. 23:6)

Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17

Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” (Matt. 26:17) Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” (Mark 15:12) Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” (Luke 22:7-8)

Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Jesus eats the Last Supper with the disciples Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover When evening had come, he sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating… (Matt. 26:17) In the evening he came with the twelve. Now as they sat and ate… (Mark 14:17) When the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (Luke 22:14) Now before the Feast of the Passover…And supper being ended… (John 13:1-2)

Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Jesus eats the Last Supper with the disciples Jesus arrested in Gethsemane Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me?” (Matt. 26:55) Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. (John 18:28)

Now it was the third hour, and they crucified him. (Mark 15:25) Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Jesus eats the Last Supper with the disciples Jesus arrested in Gethsemane Jesus crucified (9 a.m.) Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover Now it was the third hour, and they crucified him. (Mark 15:25) Romans measure days from sunrise to sunrise, beginning around 6 a.m.

…For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Cor. 5:7) Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Jesus eats the Last Supper with the disciples Jesus arrested in Gethsemane Jesus crucified (9 a.m.) Jews kill the Passover lambs Jesus dies (3 p.m.) Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice…and breathed his last. (Mark 15:34-37) …So these high priests, upon the coming of that feast which is called the Passover, when they slay their sacrifices, from the ninth hour until the eleventh… (War of the Jews 6.9.3, Josephus) …For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Cor. 5:7)

Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Jesus eats the Last Supper with the disciples Jesus arrested in Gethsemane Jesus crucified (9 a.m.) Jews kill the Passover lambs Jesus dies (3 p.m.) Jesus buried in Joseph’s tomb Passover meal eaten Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea… went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:42-43) Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover …because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day)… (John 19:31) That this Sabbath was a “high day” refers to Nisan 15 (“no work” – see Ex. 12:16) Then they shall eat the flesh [of the Passover lamb] on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Ex. 12:8)

Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Jesus eats the Last Supper with the disciples Jesus arrested in Gethsemane Jesus crucified (9 a.m.) Jews kill the Passover lambs Jesus dies (3 p.m.) Jesus buried in Joseph’s tomb Passover meal eaten Chief priests, Pharisees ask Pilate for guards to watch Jesus’ tomb Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation [of the Passover], the chief priests and Pharisees gathered to Pilate, saying, “…Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day….” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard. (Matt. 27:62-66)

Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Jesus eats the Last Supper with the disciples Jesus arrested in Gethsemane Jesus crucified (9 a.m.) Jews kill the Passover lambs Jesus dies (3 p.m.) Jesus buried in Joseph’s tomb Passover meal eaten Chief priests, Pharisees ask Pilate for guards to watch Jesus’ tomb Mary & other women visit Jesus’ tomb; He appears to them Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary came to see the tomb…. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them. (Matt. 28:1,8)

Preparation Day (of Passover) Passover (High Day) 1st Day of Feast of Unleavened Bread Preparation Day (of Sabbath) Weekly Sabbath Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 Nisan 17 Jesus eats the Last Supper with the disciples Jesus arrested in Gethsemane Jesus crucified (9 a.m.) Jews kill the Passover lambs Jesus dies (3 p.m.) Jesus buried in Joseph’s tomb Passover meal eaten Chief priests, Pharisees ask Pilate for guards to watch Jesus’ tomb Mary & other women visit Jesus’ tomb; He appears to them Disciples ask Jesus where to prepare the Passover