John 13:22 · Bible study
John 13:22 Commentary: Perplexed Disciples and Hidden Sin
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why were the disciples unable to identify the betrayer? A study of perplexity, hidden sin, and the need for self-examination at the Last Supper.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The disciples were at a complete loss, unable to identify the betrayer because Judas’s hypocrisy was perfectly concealed.
- Key words: eblepon (imperfect, “kept looking”), ongoing, searching gaze; aporoumenoi (middle participle, “perplexed”), being without resources or direction.
- Main debate: Was their “looking at one another” an attempt to detect guilt in others, or a shared bewilderment? Most commentators favor the latter.
- Theological theme: The hiddenness of sin and the necessity of self-examination before accusing others.
- Best use: A text for Lent, communion preparation, or teaching on the danger of outward piety masking inner betrayal.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke.
KJV King James Version 1769
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
the disciples were looking, therefore, one at another, doubting concerning whom he speaketh.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
The disciples therefore looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
The disciples therefore looked one upon another, doubting of whom he spoke.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces los discípulos mirábanse los unos á los otros, dudando de quién decía.
Pelo que os discípulos se olhavam uns para os outros, duvidando de quem ele dizia.
Les disciples se regardaient les uns les autres, ne sachant de qui il parlait.
Da sahen sich die Jünger untereinander an, und ward ihnen bange, von welchem er redete.
De discipelen dan zagen op elkander, twijfelende, van wien Hij dat zeide.
I discepoli si guardavano l’un l’altro, stando in dubbio di chi parlasse.
Tedy uczniowie spoglądali po sobie, wątpiąc, o kim by to mówił.
Тогда ученики озирались друг на друга, недоумевая, о ком Он говорит.
門徒 彼此 對看，猜不透 所 說 的是誰。
Then the eyes of the disciples were turned on one another, in doubt as to whom he had in mind.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 13:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the disciples’ perplexity was genuine and widespread. Vincent notes the imperfect tense of eblepon (“kept looking”), their gaze was sustained, not a quick glance, matching the ongoing tension. Aporeo (translated “doubting” or “perplexed”) means, per Thayer, “to be without resources, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn.” The disciples were at a complete loss. Clarke observes that every disciple except Judas was conscious of his own innocence, so none could point a finger. Gill adds that Judas had behaved so well outwardly that no one suspected him. Calvin highlights the contrast: the innocent were uneasy, while Judas alone remained unmoved. The consensus is clear: the disciples’ mutual scrutiny reflects both their innocence and the depth of Judas’s hypocrisy.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The disciples were genuinely unable to identify the betrayer, and their reaction shows that Judas’s outward conduct gave no hint of his inner treachery.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The nature of the disciples' perplexity | All commentators note the disciples were genuinely unable to identify the betrayer and were astonished by the announcement. | Clarke emphasizes they looked around wondering who it could be, while Gill adds they were also searching each other's faces for signs of guilt. The difference is one of emphasis, not contradiction. |
| Judas's outward behavior up to this point | Commentators uniformly affirm that Judas had given no outward cause for suspicion. His conduct appeared as faithful as the others. | There is no debate on this point; it is universally noted. |
| The purpose of the disciples' self-examination | The disciples' response (asking 'Is it I?') is seen as commendable humility and a marker of genuine faith. | Calvin sees it as a profitable anxiety that God uses to sift the heart. Others (JFB) simply describe it as 'generous, simple hearts.' No substantive disagreement. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This scene takes place during the Last Supper, a Passover meal in Jerusalem. Guests reclined on low couches around a U-shaped table, leaning on the left elbow with feet outward. The seating was intimate, the beloved disciple leaned on Jesus’ chest (v. 23). The announcement that one of them would betray Jesus shattered the meal’s solemnity.
In Jewish culture, sharing bread was a sign of fellowship and loyalty. Jesus’ words echoed Psalm 41:9, “He who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me.” The disciples had no framework for such treachery from within the inner circle. They had witnessed Judas’s public ministry and trusted him as treasurer (John 12:6). His betrayal was inconceivable.
The disciples’ confusion also reflects a cultural pattern: honor and shame were deeply communal. To betray a teacher was not only a crime against a person but a violation of sacred hospitality. The disciples’ shared gaze, scanning one another’s faces, was a natural response to a threat they could not locate. Luke 22:23 reports they “began to question among themselves which of them it was.” This was not suspicion of others; each was too struck by the possibility that it could be himself.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for John 13:22. The manuscript tradition is stable. The key terms eblepon and aporoumenoi appear consistently across witnesses.
Reception History
Early church writers, such as Chrysostom, used this verse to highlight the depth of Judas’s hypocrisy, he sat among the apostles undetected even when directly warned. In the medieval period, this scene was often included in passion plays to dramatize the tension of the Last Supper. Reformation commentators (Calvin, Geneva Notes) emphasized the theme of self-examination as a guard against hidden sin. In modern evangelical preaching, John 13:22 is frequently cited during Lenten and communion services as a call to honesty before God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Perplexity Reveals Innocence, The disciples’ confusion shows they were not aware of any plan to betray Jesus. Their honest questioning (Mark 14:19) reflects hearts that abhorred the thought.
- Hidden Sin Goes Undetected by Human Eyes, Judas’s outward conduct gave no sign of his inner corruption. The church must face the reality that secret sin can flourish behind a faithful exterior.
- Self-examination Is the Right Response to Warning, Instead of accusing others, each disciple asked, “Is it I?” (Matthew 26:22). The proper posture before God’s warnings is humility, not suspicion of others.
Five-point outline
- The Setting, The Last Supper, a Passover meal of fellowship and remembrance.
- The Announcement, Jesus declares one of them will betray him, causing a shockwave.
- The Response, The disciples look at one another, perplexed, unable to guess.
- The Contrast, Judas remains silent and unmoved, while the others are deeply troubled.
- The Outcome, The beloved disciple asks Jesus, and Judas is exposed, not by suspicion, but by Jesus’ specific action.
Illustration hooks
- Team trust betrayed: A workplace or sports team where a trusted member is discovered to be stealing or undermining the group. No one suspected them; everyone is shocked.
- Medical scan anxiety: A group of patients waiting for test results. Each knows they might be the one with the diagnosis, but they look around wondering who it will be. The wait is full of projected fear.
- Church discipline crisis: A congregation hears an ambiguous warning about unrepentant sin. Members examine themselves before pointing fingers, a healthy process that tests sincerity.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Could I be a hypocrite without knowing it, like Judas?
- How do I respond when a trusted Christian’s hidden sin is exposed? Do I get self-righteous or self-examining?
- What does it mean to “examine myself” before taking communion, as Paul urges in 1 Corinthians 11:28?
Leading a Discussion
John 13:22 captures a moment of raw confusion among Jesus’ closest followers. As you gather, consider how easy it is to assume we would never betray Jesus, and how surprising it was that one of the Twelve actually did. This passage invites honest self-reflection.
Discussion questions
- Read John 13:21, 22. What emotions do you see in the disciples when Jesus announces a betrayer?
- Why do you think none of the disciples immediately pointed at Judas? What does that tell you about his outward behavior?
- In Matthew 26:22, each disciple asks “Is it I?”, not “Is it he?”. What does that reveal about their hearts?
- How might you have reacted if you were in that room? Would you have been more likely to suspect someone else or examine yourself?
- Calvin wrote that “anxiety of this kind was profitable to them, because it gave them an opportunity of examining themselves.” When has a difficult warning actually helped you grow?
- How can we create church environments where self-examination is encouraged, but not judgmental suspicion of others?
- What safeguards can we put in place to keep hidden sin from festering in our own lives?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 42:1 | Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” |
| Matthew 26:22 | They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?” |
| Mark 14:19 | They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?” |
| Luke 22:23 | They began to question among themselves which of them it was who would do this thing. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights that each disciple, conscious of his own innocence, looked around wondering who the traitor could be. The fact that even Judas was not suspected shows, in Clarke's view, that Judas's outward conduct had been so consistently above reproach that he had earned no suspicion.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes clarifies that the word translated "doubting" here does not mean simple uncertainty but a specific kind of anxious perplexity. It describes someone who is completely at a loss, not knowing what to say or do, as shown in Matthew 26:22.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin notes that the disciples' anxious looks prove their reverence for Christ remained, while Judas's calm shows Satan's hardening. Christ's indirect rebuke was meant to stir the innocent to self-examination, not to accuse them. This models a pastoral middle path: sometimes hidden sins in the church should be hinted at rather than openly exposed, until God brings them to light.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The disciples do not accuse one another; each finds the betrayal equally thinkable of himself. Judas alone asks a different question, either to hide his guilt or to test whether Jesus actually knows him.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the disciples' complete bewilderment at Jesus's announcement. They did not search their own hearts but stared at each other, each uncertain and suspicious, showing how little they understood what was about to happen.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the disciples looked at one another in stunned disbelief, not at Jesus, because none of them had the slightest suspicion of anyone. Until that moment Judas had behaved outwardly as well as any other disciple, giving no cause for anyone to single him out.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights the disciples' honest self-doubt: each asked Jesus personally whether he was the betrayer, not pointing at others. This spontaneous response showed their innocence. Judas only asked last, reluctantly, to avoid drawing suspicion by staying silent, possibly in a half-suppressed tone.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry points out that though Christ had often told the
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the Greek tenses: the disciples kept looking (imperfect) while they were at a loss, and then suddenly the angel speaks (present tense). This shift from continuous action to an immediate, vivid declaration heightens the dramatic moment.