Discovery BoxJohn 13:2 
Context13:2 The evening meal 1 was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart 2 of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray 3 Jesus. 4
John 13:27-30
Context13:27 And after Judas 5 took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. 6 Jesus said to him, 7 “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 13:28 (Now none of those present at the table 8 understood 9 why Jesus 10 said this to Judas. 11 13:29 Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, 12 or to give something to the poor.) 13 13:30 Judas 14 took the piece of bread and went out immediately. (Now it was night.) 15
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 Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 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.
7 tn Grk “Then Jesus said to him.”
8 tn Grk “reclining at the table.” The phrase reclining at the table reflects the normal practice in 1st century Near Eastern culture of eating a meal in a semi-reclining position.
9 tn Or “knew.”
10 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
11 tn Grk “to him”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 tn Grk “telling him, ‘Buy whatever we need for the feast.’” The first clause is direct discourse and the second clause indirect discourse. For smoothness of English style, the first clause has been converted to indirect discourse to parallel the second (the meaning is left unchanged).
13 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
14 tn Grk “That one”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
15 sn Now it was night is a parenthetical note by the author. The comment is more than just a time indicator, however. With the departure of Judas to set in motion the betrayal, arrest, trials, crucifixion, and death of Jesus, daytime is over and night has come (see John 9:5; 11:9-10; 12:35-36). Judas had become one of those who walked by night and stumbled, because the light was not in him (11:10).
