The Chosen Season 5 Last Supper Episode 2: Recap, Review, & Analysis

Episode 2 of The Chosen Season 5: Last Supper (Part 1) delivers one of the most anticipated moments in the show so far: Jesus cleansing the Jerusalem Temple by driving out the money changers, sellers, and animals with a whip (Matthew 21:12-16, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-46, John 2:14-22). We also get John befriending Malchus, servant of Caiaphas (see John 18:15-16), Andrew and Philip’s reunion with Leander and the Gentiles of the Decapolis from Season 3 (see John 12:20-21), more of Thomas, Kafni, and Naomi dealing with Ramah’s death, Peter’s embarrassing first attempt at preaching in Jerusalem, and much more. Below, I’ll provide a detailed summary of what happens in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2, as well as a review and analysis of the episode’s key themes and messages. Also be sure to check out my review and analysis of Episode 1, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, and Episode 8, as well as my discussion of Season 5 Episodes 1-2 on YouTube.

Jesus (played by Jonathan Roumie) with a whip cleansing the Temple in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

What Happened in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2?

Once again, it’s difficult to separate out the distinct storylines of Season Episode 2, since they are so intertwined. Even so, in addition to outline the storyline of Jesus, the disciples, and the Gentile converts, I’ll separate out the stories of Thomas, John, and Caiaphas.

The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2 Opening

Once again, the opening gives us a section of the Last Supper and Upper Room Discourse. Anticipating how resistance will increase especially his disciples begin traveling through unfriendly territory, Jesus adjusts the instructions he gave when he first sent them out (Matthew 10 / Season 3 Episode 2) and encourages them to now take moneybags and other resources – even swords (Luke 22:35-36). In response, Simon Z asks if the two swords that they have will be enough (Luke 22:38), and Jesus explains that he wasn’t being literal but rather speaking hyperbolically about the dangers they were about to face – the disciples need to continue to rely on God to provide their safety. He goes on to explain that the world will hate them because it hates him and he has chosen them out of the world (John 15:18-19). 

Nathanael questions why Jesus has to leave and must instead send a Helper to be with them (e.g. John 16:7). Jesus warns that they will all fall away, as Zechariah prophesied (Zechariah 13:7) but encourages them to meet in Galilee (Matthew 26:31-32). When Peter insists that he will not fall away, even if the others do (Matthew 26:33), Jesus reveals that Satan has demanded to sift them all like wheat but that he has prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail so that he can strength the others after he has returned (Luke 22:31-32). When Peter doubles down, Jesus predicts his three denials before the cock crows (Luke 22:33-34). When Peter and the others insist that they will die for Jesus, Jesus explains that “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) – but he is the one who is about to do this, not them.

Thomas & Kafni in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

After the opening credits, we get a second cold open, flashing back to right before the events of Season 1 Episode 5, when Thomas and Ramah were sent by Kafni to deliver wine to the wedding in Cana. Before being sent out, Ramah receives a red necklace from her mother, Naomi – a sign of her parents’ pride in her and how she is now taking up the family business. We see the noble side of Kafni, who is providing a cask of wine that exceeds what the family could afford, because he remembers how the father was a good man when they served in the military together. Although he warns Thomas not to embarrass the business, we can see that he takes pride in Thomas’ ability to think ahead and attend to details obsessively. After Kafni and Naomi bless Thomas and Ramah and send them on their way, we learn that when Thomas was a young orphan, Kafni took him in as a worker and has been his mentor. Although he takes credit for spotting Thomas’ potential, Naomi takes credit for Ramah’s beauty, charm, and intuition.

As Thomas looks for cucumbers in the market, Kafni appears, observing how Thomas continues to obsess over details and plan ahead – except when it comes to Ramah’s safety. Seizing Thomas, he warns that the next meal he shares with Jesus will be his last supper. In his fury, Kafni has to be driven from the market by the shop owner and by his own comrades. 

Retraumatized, Thomas sits down, weeping. Suddenly, he thinks he sees Ramah in the market – only to realize that it’s actually her mother, Naomi. Naomi wishes that she could simply hate Thomas but recognizes that Ramah made her own choices. Even so, she laments having to bury her own daughter. Thomas insists that Ramah loved the life they had together – especially Jesus. Although he initially resented Jesus, he realizes he was actually projecting his own guilt and shame. He doesn’t understand what’s happening – but realizes Ramah with her intuition would have encouraged him to believe anyway.

Thomas (played by Joey Vahedi) encounters Kafni (played by Hassan Nazari-Robati) in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

Jesus, the Disciples, and the Gentile Converts in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

Peter begins the episode preaching to the crowd, just as he planned in Episode 1. He fumbles his way through the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-35), relying on Andrew to remind him of the words, and feels frustrated and embarrassed afterward. Andrew, on the other hand, is quite proud of his brother and insists that the crowd was eager to hear. Simon Z, who noticed the Mysterious Stranger taking notes, questions whether they should be preaching openly when Rome may take notice, but Andrew and Philip dismiss his concerns.

Later, Andrew and Philip are reunited with Leander, Dion, and Fatiyah, the Gentile converts of the Decapolis (Season 3 Episodes 7-8). Now friends on better terms, they have come from the Decapolis on a pilgrimage to worship, even though they don’t know much about the story of Passover or how to offer sacrifices. Since they haven’t brought their own animals, Andrew and Philip take them to the court of the Gentiles to purchase sacrifices. Since the Gentiles only have Greek drachmas with pagan images, a currency that cannot be used directly to buy an animal for sacrifice, they need to exchange them for temple coins. But Philip and Andrew warn that the exchange rate is predatory and exorbitant. When the Gentile converts question whether the temple system is in keeping with Jesus’ teaching, Andrew insists that Jesus has not come to do away with the Mosaic Law (Matthew 5:17-20).

When they arrive at the booth of a moneychanger, he immediately starts upselling Leander, insisting that he will need a bigger sacrifice for his sins. Although his initial price isn’t outrageous, he adds a massive surcharge, which he insists is necessary because of the taxes imposed by the Romans and religious leaders and his own need for money. As they bicker over the price, Leander questions the theatrics but reluctantly pays so as to not hold up the line. Continuing on through the Temple, the Gentile converts are disturbed to see a sign in Greek that warns that any Gentiles who try to go deeper into the Temple courts are subject to execution.

Since they cannot offer full sacrifice like males, Tamar and Fatiyah go to purchase birds from a Libyan man. Seeing Tamar’s emerald necklace, he is reminded of his sister and offers her doves for free and also refuses to take payment for the pigeons they originally meant to purchase. Clearly interested in Tamar, he wishes her a happy Passover as they continue on and gets in line to give their birds to a priest who can sacrifice for them.

When Jesus arrives in the court of the Gentiles, he is dismayed by the rampant greed and disrespect for his Father’s house. His ire grows even more when a random merchant bumps into him, carrying her wares through the Temple as a shortcut, and he’s forced to stop her and tell her to go back. When the seller who preyed on Leander asks what he plans on paying with, Jesus finally has enough. Taking out his whip, he uses it to tip over the money-changing table and begins shouting for everyone to get out, since they are profaning his father’s house. As the court erupts into chaos, he begins letting animals loose, destroying tables, and knocking down other wares being sold, insisting that the sellers are thieves and part of the problem.

The commotion is seen by many. Shmuel calls for Temple guards. Atticus tries to make his way inside to observe. James and John come running in. Claudia and Pilate look down from their palace. Andrew runs and finds Peter, insisting that Jesus has gone mad. 

Looking across the court at Shmuel, Caiaphas, and Zebadiah, Jesus accuses them of being a brood of vipers. As he approaches them, wip in hand, Judas looks on in dismay, exclaiming, “What have you done?”

Jesus confronts Caiphas, Shmuel, and Zebadiah in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

Caiaphas in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

Peter’s preaching at the start of the episode is listened to by one of Caiaphas’ servant girls (most likely the one who will accuse Peter in John 18:16-17), who reports back to Caiaphas, who dismisses her and prepares for his oil meeting with Zebedee. 

Later, Caiaphas dines with Herod, who waxes on and on about Greco-Roman cuisine and poetry. Annoyed, Caiaphas insists that the Jewish people have just as good poetry from David, Isaiah, and the other prophets, although Herod dismisses the biblical poetry for not being as “fun.” Having had enough pleasantries, Caiaphas inquires about Jesus. Herod initially plays dumb but then suggests that the religious authorities try to assassinate Lazarus instead of worrying about Jesus. Herod thinks Caiaphas is being driven to go after Jesus by Annas, his father-in-law, even though only Rome is supposed to engage in capital punishment and Rome has no interest in punishing supposed false prophets. Caiaphas points out the hypocrisy of Herod, who killed John the Baptizer for Herodias, chiding him for wanting to kill Jesus because of his wife/father-in-law. In response, Herod insists that he has a different position as Tetrarch. Herod reminds Caiaphas that Annas was himself deposed for doing exactly what Caiaphas is now attempting.

Undeterred, Caiaphas insists that he sincerely believes that God spoke to him about the need to save the nation by killing one man. Though Herod insists that Lazarus is a safer target, since he doesn’t have a following, Caiaphas is convinced that Jesus needs to be dealt with directly. The two realize that they need to alienate Jesus from the crowds – and the only way to do so is by getting him to misspeak about the one thing people hate more than they love Jesus (taxes).

Caiaphas’ big opening comes at the end of the episode, as Jesus begins cleansing the Temple. Looking down on Jesus from the entrance into the next court of the Temple, Caiaphas seems to recognize the opportunity before him.

John in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

John accompanies his father, Zebedee, on the delivery of the anointing oil to the house of the High Priest. They are greeted by Malchus, servant of the High Priest, who is pleased to have a new vendor so highly recommended. In order to enter into the area where the sacred oil is kept, however, they need to confirm that they have avoided any sort of ritual impurity, even if they’ve ritually washed themselves. When Zebadiah lists the potential sources of ritual contamination, including nocturnal emission, Zebedee enters but John realizes that he is excluded and claims he came in contact with leprosy. Malchus is also not able to go in because of “leprosy” and the two sit outside, resenting how the older men relish defining their status in ways that exclude younger men. Malchus reveals to John that Caiaphas is obsessed with a rabbi and is trying to find ways to break his power or direct Rome’s ire against him. With Passover near, their time is running short, since a trial cannot be held during the Passover festival. After Zebedee returns from delivering the oil, he looks on John disapprovingly, apparently recognizing the true source of his uncleanness.

Money changers in the Temple in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2 Review

As I noted in my reaction video, I was very pleased with most of what I got in Episode 2:

• Cinematic Experience: I won’t repeat what I wrote in my review of Episode 1, but everything I said about the cinematic experiences applies equally to Episode 2. In particular, the cleansing of the Temple sequence was chaotic, emotional, and riveting – everything I hoped for it to be.

• Performances: Once again, Jonathan Roumie delivers a dynamic and nuanced performance that really grounds the episode.  Richard Fancy (Caiaphas) and Paul Ben-Victor (Herod) also deliver really nuanced, organic performances that made me invest in their characters in a way I hadn’t before. Joey Vahedi does a great job at conveying Thomas’ grief, George Xanthis displays some great vulnerability as John, and Shahar Isaac gets in some great comic relief as Peter. I wasn’t particularly a fan of the performances of Decapolis Gentiles in Season 3, but I was happy to see they showed great improvement and no longer stuck out (in a negative sense).

• Last Supper Opening: Again, I like the concept of starting with the Last Supper segments. Tying in themes of growing opposition and concern for finances made a lot of sense.

• The Cleansing of the Temple: The cleansing scene was not only cinematic but also well-constructed from a narrative perspective. I appreciate how the story provided us with important context through the perspective of the Gentile converts’ experience. I also loved seeing all the different reactions from both disciples and the antagonists. It really drove home the emotional weight and significance of the moment.

• Antagonist Intrigue: Herod and Caiaphas really didn’t get much time to shine in Season 4, so it was fun to see the strained yet civil dynamic between the two of them. Both characters were far more intelligent, three-dimensional, and realistic than I expected.

• Camaraderie: Episode 2 contained several small moments of friendship that I really enjoyed. The way Andrew showed so much pride in Peter and encouraged him after his less-than-stellar preaching debut was really touching. John’s unspoken connection with Malchus over their shared struggle with “leprosy” was another touching moment.

• Humanizing Kafni: It would be easy for the show to make Kafni into an irredeemable villain, but I love how the flashback established the generosity and nobility hidden beneath his harsh exterior and present pain.

• Worldbuilding: Again, I love how small references to the Greco-Roman world give the episode a sense of depth and realism.

I did have a few small issues with the episode. Please note that, while the amount of space I take explaining these issues may make them appear significant, they were actually fairly minor but complicated biblical/theological disagreements:

• Two Swords: A lot of ink has been spilled over Jesus’ instructions to his disciples about selling their cloaks and buying swords. There are a wide range of interpretations: literal (Jesus really wanted his disciples to buy swords to protect themselves), allegorical (the two swords represent the sword of the state and the sword of the church), hyperbolic (Jesus’ is just emphasizing how dangerous the situation is about to become), and ironic (Jesus is ironically inviting the disciples to get swords, since the Suffering Servant needs to be numbered among the transgressors). The show seems to take the hyperbolic view, which I think is the second most likely option, but I prefer the view that Jesus is being ironic. During this exchange, the show omits an important reference to how the Suffering Servant will be numbered among the transgressors (Luke 22:37, Isaiah 53:12). Jesus is suggesting that the disciples are going to become transgressors (by taking up the sword) in order to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. This is exactly what comes to pass in the Garden – the disciples are rebuked for taking up the sword (Luke 22:51). However, by the same logic, he also chides the crowd for coming out with swords (Luke 22:52). David Burnett makes a compelling argument for this view on the Naked Bible Podcast.

• Sacrifices: When Leander is purchasing his sacrifice, the seller suggests that he probably needs to buy a big animal to correspond to his big sins. In particular, he suggests that Leander needs to atone for impure thoughts. I think this logic is mistaken in several ways. Animal sacrifices were usually not made to deal with matters of moral impurity/guilt – particularly impure inner thoughts. The sacrificial system was primarily designed to deal with ritual impurity, that is, unintentional violations of the ritual laws (e.g. Leviticus 4:2, 13, 22, 27, and 5:2-4, 17-18, Numbers 15:21-29, Hebrews 9:7). Sacrifices were also required for concrete infractions against civil laws that did not require capital punishment (e.g. Leviticus 5:1, 6:2-7). Old Testament sacrifices were not designed for general moral failures, much less inner moral shortcomings (Hebrews 10:4, 11). Because Jesus’ sacrifice atones for our general moral failures and because Jesus was concerned with our inner moral shortcomings, Christians tend to assume that the Old Testament sacrificial system worked the same way, but it didn’t. The Old Testament ceremonial system could only purify the flesh from ceremonial uncleanness – only Jesus provided a way to purify the conscience (Hebrews 9:8-14). The other thing worth noting is that the size of the animal sacrificed generally had more to do with the status of the individual than the size of the sin. Priests and leaders had to offer larger sacrifices (e.g. Leviticus 4:3-12, 4:22-26) than common people (Leviticus 4:27-31) or poor people (Leviticus 5:7-13). While it’s possible that the original Levitical laws were being misapplied in Jesus’ day, I think it’s unfortunate that Episode 2 may perpetuate these common misunderstandings among modern Christians.

• Nocturnal Emission: I like the scene between John and Malchus, but I think it could be confusing for some viewers. It seems clear that the two feel awkward because the real reason they are unclean is due not to leprosy but rather to nocturnal emission. In Old Testament law, the unintentional loss of life-fluids (e.g. menstruation, nocturnal emission) was seen as a sign of human mortality and made one ritually unclean (not sinful). It makes sense that the two men feel awkward about their situation and I appreciate that they seem to bond in this moment, but I could see some viewers getting confused and drawing mistaken conclusions about what's happening or how it relates to the ritual vs. moral purity of John. That said, I wouldn't want the show to spell everything out either. Maybe just a touch more clarity would have helped.

Pharisees buying a goat in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

Key Themes of The Chosen Season 5 Episode 2

Human Frailty

Once again, the Last Supper opening sequence cues us into some of the key themes for the episode. Jesus recognizes the frail humanity of his disciples and predicts how they will all fall away. Peter refuses to accept his own frailty, even swearing on his mother’s grave that he intends to go to prison or death for his Lord. In response Jesus anticipates how Peter will soon betray him three times. When the disciples continue to deny their frailty and insist that they intend to die for their friend, Jesus sadly explains that is actually what he has come to do.

We once again see Peter’s frailty and weakness on display during his first attempt to teach publicly in Jerusalem. Despite his noble intentions his memory and lips fail him again and again, and he has to be bailed out by his brother, Andrew. Without the supernatural aid of the Helper that Jesus promised in the opening, Peter’s limitations are painfully evident.

The flashback to Ramah and the later encounter between Thomas, Kafni, and Naomi are designed to make us reflect on death, the ultimate form of human frailty. Kafni’s violent resentment is driven by his unwillingness to accept the fragility of his daughter. Ironically, in the flashback he recognizes the potential economic and spiritual fragility of his old friend and yet generously provides him with the gift of good wine.

Much of the episode centers around the Gentile converts’ efforts to bring sacrifices to God in the Jerusalem Temple. The system of ritual purity and animal sacrifices in the Temple is designed to remind worshippers of both their spiritual and bodily fragility.

John’s story hammers this point home further. The reason why touching dead bodies, touching lepers, menstruating, or having nocturnal emission makes a person ritually impure is because it means they have been contaminated by human mortality and frailty – death and leaking life-fluids are signs of how our bodies decay outside of Eden. John and Malchus bond over their shared experience of fragility – but resent how the elderly priests use that fragility to exclude them.

Money & Oppression

Money is the most pervasive theme in Season 5 Episode 2:

• The Last Supper opening also introduces the theme of money and provision, as Jesus encourages the disciples to carry moneybags with them, since they will no longer be able to rely on support from hospitable Israelites (Luke 22:25-26).

• In the Thomas, Ramah, Kafni flashback, we’re reminded of how the wedding family only had a limited amount of money to spend on wine – and we see Kafni’s generosity in providing a cask that exceeds what his old friend could afford.

• In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, retold by Peter, both servants lack the money they need to pay back debts. Though the Master generously forgives his debt, the unforgiving servant oppressively seeks to extract what he is owed from his neighbor (Matthew 18:23-35).

• In order to offer sacrifices, Leander and his friends need to pay for animals. Unfortunately, they only have foreign, pagan currencies and are forced to pay predatory exchange rates and prices.

• The vendor that Leander deals with claims that the high prices are due to heavy taxes from Rome and the Temple leaders. He insists that he is only taking a reasonable cut to support his family.

• Tamar’s new friend from Libiya generously gives her birds to sacrifice for no cost.

• John and Zebedee deliver their shipment of oil and Malchus is happy to have a new vendor.

• Herod and Caiaphas devise a plan to undermine Jesus using the one thing people hate more than they love him (taxes).

• Thomas is at market when Kafni accosts him. A nearby vendor separates the two because he fears that a fight might disrupt sales.

• Jesus is bumped into by a saleswoman trying to take a shortcut through the Temple.

• Jesus is angered by how the sounds of people haggling over prices are so loud that one cannot hear people praying to the Father. 

• And, of course, when Jesus cleanses the Temple, he accuses the vendors and moneychangers of being thieves, destroys their money tables, and lets loose the animals that they are selling.

The actual take-away messages aren’t anything new or flashy, but they are true and applicable: 

• In a hostile world, we can’t always rely on others to provide for us. But we must always still look to God as our ultimate provider, even as we take measures to care for our own needs.

• Money can be a gift, especially when used generously to bless those in need, but it is also the root of all kinds of temptations.

• Those with political or religious power and status often use their position to extract exorbitant amounts of money from the poor and social outsiders (like Gentiles). 

• Our efforts to hold onto money can distract us from or crowd out proper worship and prayer.

• For many, the love of money (or hate of taxes) exceeds their love of Jesus. When Jesus challenges their idols, many “followers” end up falling away from him.

Limitations of the Old System

Episode 2 gives us the closest look at the Temple and its ceremonial system that we’ve had so far. As Philip explains, the sacrificial system is meant to be a beautiful picture of how God graciously welcomes human beings who are unworthy of entering his presence. But as Leander and Fatiyah point out, there are aspects of the Old Testament order that go against the spirit of Jesus’ teachings. Some of these issues are circumstantial. The predatory money-changing, exorbitant animal prices, and the exclusion of women from the Temple court aren’t necessary components of the sacrificial system as it is given in the Old Testament – these issues have arisen as a result of human innovation/corruption. But the role of weak and corrupt humans in ordering and executing the Temple complex is baked into the Old Testament system (Hebrews 7:28). And there are other inherent issues with the old system. The “dividing wall of hostility” separating Jews and Gentiles needs to be torn down to make “one new man in place of the two” (Ephesians 2:14-16). More importantly, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” the old system can’t even deal with the deeper problem faced by those who come and only serves as “a reminder of sins every year” (Hebrews 10:3-4). By exposing these problems with the old ceremonial system, Episode 2 is priming us to anticipate the greater reality that Jesus will bring about through his own sacrificial death on the cross.

What did you think about Episode 2 of The Chosen Season 5? I’d love to hear your reactions, questions, and theories in the comments below. Checkback soon for more content, and also be sure to check out our discussion of these events in The Chosen Season 5 and Scripture Podcast.

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