Luke 22:1-5

Luke 22:1 (KJB)
Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

The feast of unleavened bread began after the slaying of the Passover lamb and it continued for seven days. In fact it was later combined to be one feast which lasted eight days. The time of the crucifixion of Jesus was now drawing near.

Luke 22:2 (KJB)
And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

The leaders knew that Jesus was coming to the Passover and now was their chance to arrest Him and accuse Him of crimes which could be used to sway Pilate to crucify Him. Now the Sanhedrin were together in their fullness in the palace of Caiaphas and this would have been considered an official meeting. It contained both the religious leaders and also the legal arm which was the civil magistrates. The enemies of Jesus were not taking any chances as they wanted this to look like an official gathering of the leadership and not some type of secret meeting of just a few. They were not going to take Jesus by legitimate means, instead they had to entrap Him or create some type of heinous accusations against Him, so bad that even the Romans would not hesitate in crucifying Him as a malefactor. They needed to come up with some type of strategy and that is why both the ecclesiastical arm and the legal arm of the Sanhedrin was present.

Luke 22:3 (KJB)
Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

(Mark 14:10 KJV) And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. Judas was not the only one who was involved in the betrayal. Satan had entered into Judas and compelled him to betray Jesus. The betrayal by Judas was also a fulfilled prophecy from Psalm 55. (Psalms 55:12 KJV) For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: {13} But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. {14} We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Luke 22:4 (KJB)
And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

Judas had wasted no time because Satan had now entered him and the betrayal was on. Judas went to the chief priests and captains of the temple guard to discuss how they might take Jesus. It was finally decided upon that they would take Him in the Garden of Gethsemane where He normally had gone. Judas knew this and it would be a good place to arrest Him and so they did. Judas also discussed his fee which was 30 pieces of silver.

Luke 22:5 (KJB)
And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

Judas was so blinded by his love for money that his first question to them was what will ye give me? (Mat 26:15 KJV) And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. So they had agreed on a price of thirty pieces of silver. These pieces of silver were each worth 4 denarii or drachmas which would have been equal to 120 days wages. The money had not yet been given to Judas as they just gave him the promise. He would be paid upon delivering Jesus. It was also a fulfillment of Zechariah 11:12. (Zec 11:12 KJV) And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. It is absolutely amazing how many prophecies were fulfilled in that weekend.

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