After Jesus had said this
This phrase refers to the preceding discourse where Jesus washed the disciples' feet and spoke about servanthood and love. It sets the stage for the gravity of the moment, as Jesus transitions from teaching to revealing a deep personal anguish. The context is the Last Supper, a pivotal moment in the Passion narrative.

He became troubled in spirit
The phrase indicates Jesus' deep emotional distress. This mirrors other moments in the Gospels where Jesus experiences human emotions, such as in the Garden of Gethsemane. It highlights His dual nature as fully God and fully man. The Greek word used here, "tarassō," conveys a sense of agitation and turmoil, emphasizing the weight of the impending betrayal.

and testified
This term underscores the solemnity and truthfulness of Jesus' forthcoming statement. In biblical terms, to testify is to bear witness to the truth, often with divine authority. This moment is a fulfillment of His role as a prophet, revealing what is to come.

“Truly, truly, I tell you
The repetition of "truly" (Greek: "amen, amen") is a common Johannine device used to emphasize the certainty and importance of Jesus' words. It serves as a solemn affirmation, drawing attention to the gravity of the revelation. This phrase is used throughout the Gospel of John to introduce significant teachings or revelations.

one of you will betray Me.”
This prophecy of betrayal is a direct reference to Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve Apostles. It fulfills Old Testament prophecies such as Psalm 41:9, which speaks of betrayal by a close friend. The betrayal is a pivotal event leading to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, highlighting themes of human sinfulness and divine sovereignty. Judas' act is a stark contrast to the loyalty expected of a disciple, serving as a warning and a fulfillment of Jesus' foreknowledge.

1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is the Son of God, who is fully aware of the impending betrayal by one of His disciples. His troubled spirit reflects His humanity and the emotional weight of the betrayal.

2. The Disciples
The twelve men chosen by Jesus to follow Him and learn from His teachings. They are present at the Last Supper, unaware of who among them will betray Jesus.

3. The Last Supper
This event takes place in the upper room in Jerusalem, where Jesus shares a final meal with His disciples before His crucifixion. It is a significant moment of teaching and revelation.

4. Judas Iscariot
Although not named in this specific verse, Judas is the disciple who will ultimately betray Jesus. His actions fulfill the prophecy and set the stage for the events leading to the crucifixion.

5. Jerusalem
The city where these events unfold, Jerusalem is central to the Jewish faith and the location of significant events in Jesus' ministry, including His crucifixion and resurrection.The Humanity of Jesus
Jesus' troubled spirit reminds us of His full humanity. He experienced emotions like sorrow and distress, which can comfort us in our own struggles.

The Reality of Betrayal
Betrayal is a painful reality that even Jesus faced. We can find solace in knowing that Jesus understands our pain and offers us His presence and peace.

Prophecy and Fulfillment
The betrayal of Jesus was foretold in Scripture, demonstrating God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan through Christ.

Self-Examination
The disciples' questioning of who would betray Jesus encourages us to examine our own hearts and motives, ensuring our loyalty and faithfulness to Christ.

Forgiveness and Redemption
Despite the betrayal, Jesus' mission was to offer forgiveness and redemption. We are called to extend grace and forgiveness to others, even in the face of betrayal.(21) He was troubled in spirit.--Comp. Note on John 11:33. He has spoken of the future of those who are true to their commission as Apostles. He now turns in deep emotion to him of whom those words cannot be spoken. The "Verily, verily," and the three verbs, "was troubled," "bare witness," "spake," perhaps imply that there was a pause in which His feeling checked His words, but that the witness to the truth demanded that they should be spoken, painful as they were. For the words themselves, comp. Note on Matthew 26:21.

Verses 21-30 correspond with the scene which Matthew describes (Matthew 26:21, etc.) as occurring during the Paschal meal, and preceding the departure of Judas before the Supper was instituted - "as they did eat." The ὁ ἐσθίων μετ ἐμοῦ in Mark 14:18 corresponds and finds its explanation in the scene described by John, as also his quotation from Psalm 41. It does not follow, because the synoptics omit the "feet-washing," that they were ignorant of it; John's purpose was to record that which they had omitted. On the other hand, John does give some very significant indications of the same general current of inner life in the mind of Jesus and of the twelve. Matthew (Matthew 26:14-16) shows that at this very moment Judas had so far given way to his avarice, impatience, disappointment, and innate pride and selfishness, as to be simply seeking his opportunity to betray his Master in the absence of the multitude. He had his price; he was meditating treachery. Granting the mixture of motive which may have agitated him, we condemn the pleading of numerous modern writers, who almost extenuate his malice and represent him as victim of the violent vulgar passion of the multitude for a triumphant secular Messiah. Every touch or stroke in the evangelic narrative shows how utterly Impervious to goodness the traitor really was; and John gives us a further hint, in addition to that supplied by the synoptists, as to the very commencement of the agony, the details of which they prolong into the night. Jesus was troubled in the spirit (cf. notes on John 11:33). This is one of the strongest expressions used of the sorrows of Christ; the ταράχη even was deeper down in his nature than what is expressed by ἀδημονεῖν, λυπεῖσθαι, of Matthew. The distress penetrated from "body" to "soul," and then to inmost "spirit." The Lord was terribly perturbed, not merely with approaching agony aggravated by treachery and desertion, but by the contrast between his love and the issue, between an apostle and his doom. And he testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you. A close specification of coming events takes the place of the more vague utterances of vers. 17-19. One of you shall betray me. The synoptic account introduces the vivid scene of humble and heart-.rending inquiry, "Lord, is it I?" to which the reply was made, "The one that dippeth his hand in the dish with me shall betray me," followed by a still more awful warning, and imprecation calling the self-consciously guilty man to hesitate, to pause for his own sake (Matthew 26:24). And, further, we learn that Judas received the answer, unheard by his fellow-disciples that it was he who was in this imminent danger. This scene, however, was so impressive to the majority that the synoptic tradition failed to record a briefer side-scene, of which John was the principal witness, and which he here describes. The disciples (therefore) were gazing on one another, being in perplexity concerning whom he spake. They were looking on in mute or whispering amazement and tribulation upon one another, being in sore bewilderment (ἀπορούμενοι), but as yet they did not suspect Judas. There was lying, says our text, reclining at the table, in the bosom (ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ) - ἐπὶ το στῆθος, "against the breast" - one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. Observe, this sacred designation occurs in John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7, 20. In John 20:2 it is "the other disciple whom Jesus ἐφίλει, amabat, implying that the love of Jesus was not confined to John, but embraced Peter also; whereas here we have ο{ν ἠγάπα, the higher love of respect and affection, diligebat. We can have no doubt, from the enumeration of the group in John 21:2, etc., that it is one of Zebedee's sons. Now one of these, James, as we learn from the narrative of Acts 12, soon passed away. The author of the Fourth Gospel does undoubtedly mean to refer to John, and to represent the disciple ἵν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς as no other than himself. The attitude so carefully described had been adopted by the Jews at table. It shows that John was seated, or was reclining, next to Jesus on his right, and therefore could, more easily than his next companion on the left, have sought and received an answer from the Lord. Whether this was Peter or Judas does not appear certain. Edersheim has represented Peter's place as on the opposite side of the horseshoe table. Words from that distance could have been overheard by all. At the celebration of the Passover, the guests were accustomed originally to stand; but after the Captivity the custom fell into desuetude.

Parallel Commentaries ...


[After] Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

had said
εἰπὼν (eipōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

[this],
Ταῦτα (Tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

He became troubled
ἐταράχθη (etarachthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5015: To disturb, agitate, stir up, trouble. Of uncertain affinity; to stir or agitate.

in spirit
πνεύματι (pneumati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

testified,
ἐμαρτύρησεν (emartyrēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3140: To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.

“Truly,
Ἀμὴν (Amēn)
Hebrew Word
Strong's 281: Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.

truly,
ἀμὴν (amēn)
Hebrew Word
Strong's 281: Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.

I tell
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

you,
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

one
εἷς (heis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

of
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

you
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

will betray
παραδώσει (paradōsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3860: From para and didomi; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit.

Me.”
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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NT Gospels: John 13:21 When Jesus had said this he was (Jhn Jo Jn)