On Jesus’ last week(s) My previous article has dealt with the chronology of Jesus’ Last Supper 1. A reassessment of A. Jaubert’s hypothesis on the intrica- cies of the lunar and solar ancient calendars has shown the priority of John, as far as accuracy is concerned. The fourth Gospel is quite plain, but the Synoptics witness a significant amount of reworking by the early Church, which has turned the Jesus’ Passion narrative into a Christianized Passover, culminating with the cross. Now the obvious discrepancy between “risen on the third day” (1 Cor 15,4) and “breaking the bread on the first day of the week” (Acts 20,7) has variously been explained away, but a re- view of ancient customs, both Jewish and Christian, allows us to build a picture of Jesus’ last days below the reworking of tradition. I. Customs and Literary Issues In the four Gospels, the Passion narrative spans one full day and displays a great concentration of events. They appear within many institutions and customs, both Jewish and Christian, which are somewhat distorted. Considering that Pauline Christianity first existed without a New Testament, it is useful to consider early Church traditions, for they, somewhat unexpectedly, shed light on some Gospel features. 1. About the Eucharistic Bread There is no doubt that in early times the Eucharistic rite was performed with normal bread. Some testimonies can be adduced. After having spoken of the Passover lamb, Justin Martyr says (Dial. § 41) that the Biblical type or figure of the Eucharistic bread See “On Jesus’ Last Supper”, Bib 91 (2010) 348-369. 1