13:21 When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed 5 in spirit, and testified, 6 “I tell you the solemn truth, 7 one of you will betray me.” 8
1 tn Or “Supper.” To avoid possible confusion because of different regional English usage regarding the distinction between “dinner” and “supper” as an evening meal, the translation simply refers to “the evening meal.”
2 sn At this point the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. C. K. Barrett (St. John, 365) thought this was a reference to the idea entering the devil’s own heart, but this does not seem likely. It is more probable that Judas’ heart is meant, since the use of the Greek article (rather than a possessive pronoun) is a typical idiom when a part of one’s own body is indicated. Judas’ name is withheld until the end of the sentence for dramatic effect (emphasis). This action must be read in light of 13:27, and appears to refer to a preliminary idea or plan.
3 tn Or “that he should hand over.”
4 tn Grk “betray him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Or “greatly troubled.”
6 tn Grk “and testified and said.”
7 tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
8 tn Or “will hand me over.”
9 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn Grk “into that one”; the pronoun “he” is more natural English style here.
sn This is the only time in the Fourth Gospel that Satan is mentioned by name. Luke 22:3 uses the same terminology of Satan “entering into” Judas but indicates it happened before the last supper at the time Judas made his deal with the authorities. This is not necessarily irreconcilable with John’s account, however, because John 13:2 makes it clear that Judas had already come under satanic influence prior to the meal itself. The statement here is probably meant to indicate that Judas at this point came under the influence of Satan even more completely and finally. It marks the end of a process which, as Luke indicates, had begun earlier.
11 tn Grk “Then Jesus said to him.”