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And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”

Mark 14:22

 

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.

Luke 22:17

 

The Claim: Mark says the first communion began with eating the bread, but Luke says it began with drinking the wine. This is a contradiction.

 

The Explanation: Mark does indeed say that eating the bread happened before drinking the wine. As for Luke, let’s get some context, and take a look at the whole communion event in Luke 22.

 

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

Luke 22:14-23

 

Both Mark and Luke are consistent in the first communion, with the bread first, then the cup.  In Luke 22:19 they took and ate the bread, then in verse 20 is when they drank the wine. This is indicated by verse 20 saying “And likewise the cup…” which refers consuming the wine as they consumed the bread in verse 19. The first cup in Luke was simply not the cup for communion (or it could have been the cup for communion, but they did not drink of it in verse 17, only divided it among themselves). Either way, there is no contradiction here.