And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While the verse simply states Jesus arrived with the twelve, it's powerful because it means Judas, the betrayer, was walking right beside his Master and his brothers in faith, hidden in plain sight. This highlights Jesus' profound awareness of the betrayal that was unfolding even as He was sharing this intimate meal.
And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus and his disciples have just prepared for the Passover meal in Jerusalem, a significant event as it's the last one Jesus will share with them before his crucifixion. The air is thick with anticipation, but also with a dark undercurrent as Judas Iscariot has already betrayed Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. As evening falls, Jesus returns with the twelve, unaware of the impending betrayal that Jesus knows is about to unfold.
Just as evening falls, Jesus arrives with his disciples. But this isn't just any meal; it's charged with a terrible foreknowledge. One of them is a traitor.
Mark's account of the Last Supper begins with a stark reality: Judas, one of the 'twelve,' has already made his pact to betray Jesus. The scholarly context reveals that Judas had gone to the chief priests before this evening, seeking an opportunity and agreeing on a price – thirty pieces of silver. Jesus knows this. The simple act of arriving 'with the twelve' is now overshadowed by the knowledge of betrayal lurking within the group. This wasn't a surprise to Jesus; it was a part of the divine plan unfolding.
The gathering isn't just dinner; it's the Passover meal, a sacred observance loaded with meaning. What makes this particular Passover so critical?
The scholars point out that this evening marks the observance of the Passover, a deeply significant festival for the Jewish people. It commemorates their liberation from slavery in Egypt, a pivotal moment in their history. However, Jesus is about to give this ancient ritual a profound new meaning. He knows his own 'time is near' – not just the time for the Passover meal, but the time of his sacrifice. He is deliberately connecting the ancient liberation symbolized by the Passover lamb to his own impending sacrifice, which will bring about a far greater liberation.
Jesus arrives with 'the twelve.' This intimate group is about to face a profound test, revealing the stark contrast between loyalty and treachery.
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The phrase 'with the twelve' is crucial. It emphasizes the deep intimacy Jesus shared with his chosen disciples. Yet, within this very circle of trust, a betrayal is imminent. The scholarly context notes how astonishing it is that Judas could maintain such hypocrisy, spending the day with Jesus while planning his downfall. Jesus' awareness of this isn't meant to publicly shame Judas immediately, but as the scholars suggest, it's a 'cry' born of deep emotional pain. The inclusion of Judas in the 'twelve' highlights that even those closest can be tested, and that true loyalty is revealed when challenged by temptation and deception.
This verse marks the precise moment Jesus and His disciples gathered for the Passover meal, a pivotal event occurring shortly before His arrest and crucifixion. The historical context highlights the stark contrast between the sacred observance and the imminent betrayal by one of Jesus' own.
c. AD 30
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, secretly met with the chief priests and agreed to hand Jesus over to them for thirty pieces of silver. This marked the beginning of the final plot against Jesus.
c. AD 30
Disciples Prepare the Passover Meal
Jesus sent two disciples ahead to the city to find a man with a water pitcher, and to follow him to a prepared upper room. They were to make ready the Passover meal as Jesus had instructed.
Evening, c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus and the Twelve Arrive for Passover
As evening fell on the first day of unleavened bread, Jesus arrived with his eleven loyal disciples and the now-present Judas to the location where the Passover meal was prepared.
During the Passover Meal, c. AD 30
Jesus Identifies His Betrayer
While they were eating, Jesus sorrowfully announced that one of the twelve, someone eating with Him, would betray Him. This caused great distress and questioning among the disciples.
After the Passover Meal, c. AD 30
Institution of the Lord's Supper
After identifying Judas and his impending betrayal, Jesus instituted the new covenant meal, the Lord's Supper, using the Passover elements of bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood.
This passage describes the same event, highlighting Jesus' desire to eat the Passover meal with His disciples, underscoring the significance of their gathering.
John 13:2This verse sets the scene for the Last Supper, mentioning that the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus, providing context for the atmosphere as Jesus arrived with the twelve.
Matthew 26:20Matthew's parallel account also notes Jesus arriving with the twelve for the Passover meal, emphasizing the arrival of the group as they prepared for this pivotal moment.
1 Corinthians 11:23This passage refers back to the institution of the Lord's Supper during the Passover meal, reminding us of the profound significance of Jesus' presence with the twelve at this time.
calvinMark 14:10-17: "And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them."
- Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15. And said to them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they appointed to him thirty pieces of silver. 16. And from that time he sought an opportunity to betray him. 17. Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where dost thou wish us…
pulpitMark 14:17: "And in the evening he cometh with the twelve."
Verse 17. - And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve. It was in the evening that the lamb was to be eaten. Peter and John having returned from their preparation, the twelve (including Judas Iscariot) all went back with their Master to Jerusalem.
While the verse simply states Jesus arrived with the twelve, it's powerful because it means Judas, the betrayer, was walking right beside his Master and his brothers in faith, hidden in plain sight. This highlights Jesus' profound awareness of the betrayal that was unfolding even as He was sharing this intimate meal.
Jesus and his disciples have just prepared for the Passover meal in Jerusalem, a significant event as it's the last one Jesus will share with them before his crucifixion. The air is thick with anticipation, but also with a dark undercurrent as Judas Iscariot has already betrayed Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. As evening falls, Jesus returns with the twelve, unaware of the impending betrayal that Jesus knows is about to unfold.
Jesus and his disciples have just prepared for the Passover meal in Jerusalem, a significant event as it's the last one Jesus will share with them before his crucifixion. The air is thick with anticipation, but also with a dark undercurrent as Judas Iscariot has already betrayed Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. As evening falls, Jesus returns with the twelve, unaware of the impending betrayal that Jesus knows is about to unfold.
"And when it was evening, he came with the twelve." — While the verse simply states Jesus arrived with the twelve, it's powerful because it means Judas, the betrayer, was walking right beside his Master and his brothers in faith, hidden in plain sight.…
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Last reviewed October 2026