Last Supper

[Birchy]

Is there an official register of who was in attendance at The Last Supper? Do all four gospel writers agree on the attendees?

[spinchimp]

Yeah, they all clocked in before they sat down to eat with the big fella.

[Cetti]

As it was the last time they would all be together it would have been Jesus' closest friends. So all the twelve disciples were there.

[sft42]

...only problem was Judas had a prawn cocktail starter but he wouldn't spring for the extra couple of sheckles to pay for it cause he was really skint at the time....He kept trying to get a tap from Thomas but he didn't think he would get the money back from him even though Judas kept saying he was onto a good few bob in the next couple of days from some friends cause of some inside info he has slipped them.

[Maudlettice]

According to Leonardo di Vinci, facing the table from left to right were Bartholomaus, Jacobus Minor, Andreas, Judas, Johannes, Thomas, Jacobus Major, Phillipus, Mathaus, Thaddaus and Simon Zelottes.

[Quizmonster]

In the King James Bible, Matthew Ch 26 V 20 says: "Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve."

Mark Ch 14 V 17 says: "And in the evening he cometh with the twelve."

Luke Ch 22 V 14 says: "And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him."

John, however, simply refers to "the disciples", mentioning by name only Simon Peter, Judas Iscariot, Thomas, Philip and Judas (not Iscariot). So his gospel is not quite so definite that all twelve were present, though it would be odd were they not.

[FredPuli]

Doubt it QM. If the twelve were all there there would have been 13 at table and you know how unlucky that is. The caterers would have had to set a 14th place, with or without a toy bear or something to fill the place; nothing in Scripture or the painting about any of that, so it must have been 12 or less. And Sft42 ,if Judas Iscariot, a Jew , ordered a prawn anything he'd have been sussed as odd (or had they abandoned kosher food already?)

[Quizmonster]

Your reference to 'caterers', Fred, reminds me of a rather odd aspect of the Last Supper story. It didn't happen in any sort of local hostelry as such, apparently. The disciples were told to go into the city and a bloke with a pitcher of water would meet them; they then had to follow him to a house and ask where the room prepared for supper was.

How did the pitcher-guy know whereabouts they'd be? Plus, I'd imagine a Middle Eastern city in biblical times was positively awash with men carrying water-pitchers! I can envisage a Pythonesque 'Life of Brian' scenario there..."Why are you people following me? Go away! Oh, all right, I am the true water-pitcher bloke!"

[gazzawazza]

Aaah, Quizzie, I can answer this one. Going back to my RE teacher at school who explained the significance of this. In the time of Jesus, carrying water was woman's work much the same as cleaning and tidying is today... (only joking...!)

But seriously, in those times, women went to collect water, so, a man carrying a pitcher of water would be very conspicuous indeed. This was how they knew who to follow.

[Maudlettice]

There were quite a lot following the pitcher bearer. Firstly 12 fully made up Apostles, then Mary (who did the washing up), then 2 disciples (Matthias, who only became an Apostle after Judas's suicide, and Paul who later became an Apostle through bumping into JC at the Resurrection) and lastly the chap who took the snaps for Leonardo to paint.

[Quizmonster]

I take the point, Gazza, but he'd be very conspicuous only if you actually saw him, surely! And what guarantee was there of that? Plus, if pitcher-bearing truly was solely women's work, I'd imagine this guy would finish up with half the city's men trailing after him, shouting sexual-orientation-type insults! Then, how would he know who to invite into the house? (I'm only joking, you understand, not truly disagreeing with you. Cheers)

[Spellmaster]

QM, Gazza is absolutely correct in his assertion that pitcher-carrying was a woman's work in those days, and that a man doing this work would be conspicuous. Just for once accept that you don't know everything and someone else can offer a perfectly correct answer that you don't have.

[sft42]

Ppssstt.....It's all made up folks....there was no bloke called jesus or anything like it....all just a silly story for gullible fools!

[gazzawazza]

Actually you're wrong sft, I've seen him on the telly in films and that.

[Birchy]

Thanks to all who attempted to answer my question. Note to AB Editor.....I expect this registers as an answered question? How marvellous that this website hasn't simply degenerated into a chatroom for the terminally pedantic. Cheerio....I'm off to Blah-Blah-Blah-Bank.com ..............