Britannica Sources used in this answer

What happened at the Last Supper?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Jesus Icon painting of Jesus Christ as Pantocrator.

The Last Supper was the final meal shared by Jesus and his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem on the night before his crucifixion.1

During this event, Jesus revealed that one of his disciples would betray him. He also instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist by blessing bread and wine, identifying them as his body and his blood of the Covenant. Early Christian tradition views this as a mandate to continue the celebration in anticipation of the kingdom of God.1

While the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) place the meal during Passover, the Gospel According to John suggests a different timeline. These accounts are recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and I Corinthians. The event has been a central theme in Early Christian art, traditionally focusing on the betrayal announcement and the communion of the Apostles.1