Everyone is familiar with Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, The Last Supper. The painting shows the moment after Jesus revealed to His apostles that one of them would betray Him. We see each apostle’s reaction. Leonardo divided the twelve into four groups of three.
On the far right of Jesus, we see Bartholomew, James (the son of Alphaeus), and Andrew with surprised looks. Next is Peter, holding a knife that perhaps he would later use to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. He leans over to John, the youngest apostle, who seems to have swooned, perhaps telling him to ask Jesus who the betrayer is. Judas, leaning forward between Peter and John, holds the money bag and reaches for the same loaf of bread Jesus is reaching for.
On Jesus’ left side, we see Thomas, James (the brother of Jesus), and Philip. Thomas looks to be questioning what Jesus just said about betrayal. James appears stunned, while Philip seeks clarification. On the far end of the table, we see Matthew, Jude (Thaddeus), and Simon the Zealot. Matthew and Thaddeus are looking at Simon. Did they suspect him?
Leonardo spent a lot of time walking around Milan looking for ordinary individuals to model the faces of the apostles. After all, the apostles were just ordinary people. Does the painting accurately show the real setting of the Last Supper? Probably not. The Bible says they gathered in a large above-ground room (Mark 14:18). It might have been the same place where Jesus appeared to them a week after His resurrection. The painting depicts a banquet hall with all the men seated on one side of a long table covered with a white cloth with blue stripes, and each man has a glass and a plate. In the first century, it was common to follow the Roman custom of reclining on a U-shaped arrangement of lounges called a triclinium around a small table.
Does the painting accurately show the apostles’ immediate reactions? We have no way of knowing, but it’s interesting to think about. If you were one of the apostles, how would you have reacted? Would you be shocked to learn your friend and teacher was about to be betrayed and killed? Would you want to know who the betrayer was? Could it be you?
Jesus told His apostles what was ahead to prepare them for the grief they would soon face. At the Last Supper, He also gave them the symbols of a loaf and a cup, to remind them whenever they gathered of His sacrifice — His body and blood. It also reminds us “until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26) that everything happened according to God’s plan to redeem all who accept His gift of grace through Jesus Christ.
— Roland Earnst © 2026
Reference: Wikipedia.com
