This is the beginning of the Last Supper. Jesus announces that 'his time is at hand'. The atmosphere at the table instantly turns icy when he drops the bombshell: there is a traitor at the table. Bach lets us feel the tension between the holy ritual and the human betrayal here.
The Last Supper
Er sprach: Gehet hin
Recitative
•Evangelist, Jesus
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No. 9c-dpart_11
Evangelist
And he said:
Jesus
Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
Evangelist
And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said:
Jesus
Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
German
English
Evangelist
Er sprach:
Evangelist
And he said:
Jesus
Gehet hin in die Stadt zu einem und sprecht zu ihm: Der Meister lässt dir sagen: Meine Zeit ist hie, ich will bei dir die Ostern halten mit meinen Jüngern.
Jesus
Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
Evangelist
Und die Jünger taten, wie ihnen Jesus befohlen hatte, und bereiteten das Osterlamm. Und am Abend setzte er sich zu Tische mit den Zwölfen. Und da sie aßen, sprach er:
Evangelist
And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said:
Jesus
Wahrlich ich sage euch: Einer unter euch wird mich verraten.
Jesus
Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Modern adaptation
Jesus gave instructions for the meal. Once at the table, he suddenly said something that dropped like a bomb: 'One of you eating here with me now is going to betray me.'