Luke 22:12

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And {G2548} he shall shew {G1166} you {G5213} a large {G3173} upper room {G508} furnished {G4766}: there {G1563} make ready {G2090}.

He will show you a large room upstairs already furnished; make the preparations there.”

And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”

And he will show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

Commentary

Luke 22:12 describes a crucial detail in the preparations for one of the most significant events in Christian history: the Last Supper. Jesus instructs two of His disciples, Peter and John, on how to find the specific location where they are to prepare the Passover meal.

Context of Luke 22:12

This verse is part of the broader narrative of Jesus' final days in Jerusalem, leading up to His crucifixion. The annual Passover feast was approaching, a time when Jewish families would gather to commemorate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Jesus, knowing His hour had come, desired to celebrate this Passover with His disciples. When asked where they should prepare, Jesus gives them specific, almost prophetic, instructions to find a man carrying a pitcher of water, follow him, and he would show them a "large upper room furnished." This divine foreknowledge highlights Jesus' omniscience and control over unfolding events, even the seemingly mundane details of finding a suitable venue for such a sacred occasion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Providence and Foreknowledge: Jesus' detailed instructions, knowing precisely what the disciples would encounter, underscore His divine foreknowledge and the meticulous nature of God's plan. Nothing is left to chance; every detail, even the discovery of a specific "upper room furnished," is part of God's sovereign orchestration.
  • Preparation for Sacred Encounter: The instruction to "make ready" emphasizes the human responsibility in preparing for a holy gathering. The room being "furnished" (Greek: estromenon, meaning 'spread' or 'prepared with couches') suggests it was already set up for a meal, indicating a readiness for a significant event. This highlights the importance of spiritual and physical preparation for communal worship and encountering Christ.
  • The Significance of the "Upper Room": This "large upper room" (Greek: anagaion) was not just any space; it was a private, spacious area suitable for a group. It became the setting for the institution of the Lord's Supper, where Jesus broke bread and shared wine, symbolizing His body and blood given for many. This same type of upper room also served as a significant gathering place for the early believers, notably for prayer and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Upper room" (ἀνάγαιον - anagaion): This Greek term refers to a room on the upper floor of a house, often larger and more private than rooms on the ground floor. Such rooms were commonly used for banquets, meetings, or quiet contemplation.
  • "Furnished" (ἐστρωμένον - estromenon): This participle comes from the verb stronnumi, meaning "to spread" or "to furnish with couches/carpets." It implies that the room was already prepared with the necessary arrangements for reclining at a meal, indicating its immediate suitability for the Passover feast.

Practical Application

Luke 22:12 reminds us that God is intimately involved in the details of our lives, even in the seemingly small things. Just as a specific room was prepared for Jesus' final meal with His disciples, so too does God prepare circumstances and opportunities for us to encounter Him and serve His purposes. It encourages us to be attentive to divine leading and to diligently "make ready" our hearts and lives for His presence and work. Our preparation, though human, cooperates with God's perfect plan to bring about sacred moments and spiritual growth.

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Cross-References

  • Acts 16:14 (3 votes)

    And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

  • Acts 16:15 (3 votes)

    And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.

  • Acts 1:13 (3 votes)

    And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James.

  • John 2:25 (2 votes)

    And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

  • John 21:17 (1 votes)

    He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

  • Acts 20:8 (1 votes)

    And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.