Luke 22:23 Meaning: When Betrayal Hits Close
They began to question among themselves which of them it was who would do this thing.
And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
And they began to question among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
And they began to reason among themselves, who then of them it may be, who is about to do this thing.
And they began to question together among themselves who then it could be of them who was about to do this.
Meaning in one sentence
The disciples questioned among themselves who would betray Jesus, revealing genuine self-doubt and no suspicion of Judas.
Context
It is the night of the Last Supper. Jesus has just taken bread and cup and given them to his disciples with words that would echo through the centuries: this is my body, this is the new covenant in my blood. Then, in the middle of that intimate moment, he says that one of them will betray him. The path ahead is determined, he adds, but terrible grief awaits the one who betrays. The disciples hear this and stop. They do not turn to look at anyone in particular. They do not point. Instead, each one starts searching his own heart. That is the moment this verse captures.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight here. The verb ‘question’ (suzētein) comes from sun (together) and zēteō (to seek). It pictures them searching side by side, not accusing. They are bewildered together. The small word ara (‘then’) signals they are drawing a conclusion, ‘who then could it be?’ It is the sound of people reasoning through something they cannot bear to believe. And the participle mellōn (‘is about to’) tells us this betrayal is not a vague future threat. It is already moving toward them. These words together show a group of men stunned into honesty, turning inward before they turn on each other.
How Christians Read This Verse
Anglican commentators in the Cambridge Bible note the disciples ‘seem to have had no suspicions of Judas.’ Their question was not from a place of pointing fingers, but from genuine sorrow and self-examination. The Reformed Geneva Bible echoes this: they simply ‘began to enquire among themselves.’ Lutheran scholar Lange observes that Luke paints a sharp contrast between the disciples’ state of mind and Jesus’ calm words. Across traditions, readers have seen here not failure but honesty, men who knew their own hearts well enough to wonder.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This week, when you hear about betrayal, in the news, at church, in your own family, notice what your first instinct is. Is it to think of someone else? Luke 22:23 invites you to pause and let your own heart be searched first. Before you point a finger, ask yourself what you are capable of. That is not false guilt; it is the kind of humility that keeps us close to Jesus.
Main takeaway: Hearing of betrayal, the disciples first examined themselves rather than accusing another, a pattern worth following.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus said someone would hurt him badly. His friends didn’t know who. So each one looked at their own heart and asked, “Could it be me?”
For ages 9, 12
When Jesus said one of his closest friends would betray him, the disciples didn’t start pointing fingers. They each felt the weight of that possibility in their own hearts. It’s a powerful example of humility. They knew enough about themselves to wonder if they could be the one. That kind of honesty is what Jesus calls us to.
Questions People Ask
Why did the disciples ask among themselves instead of asking Jesus directly?
They were shocked and perhaps afraid to ask. But more than that, the way they turned to each other shows they were each examining their own hearts. It was a moment of joint searching, not interrogation.
Did any disciple suspect Judas at this moment?
The Cambridge Bible notes that the disciples seemed to have had no suspicions of Judas. His betrayal was so hidden that even after Jesus’ warning, they did not think of him. They looked at themselves.
What does the Greek word for 'question' tell us?
The word is suzētein, meaning to seek or examine together. It implies a shared, gentle searching, not a heated argument or an accusation. They were in it together, bewildered and honest.
What is 'this thing' they are asking about?
It refers to the act of betrayal, handing Jesus over to the authorities. Jesus had just predicted it in the previous verses, and they are trying to understand who could do such a thing.
How is this moment different in Matthew and Mark?
Matthew and Mark emphasize the disciples’ sorrow and their direct question to Jesus: 'Surely not I, Lord?' Luke focuses on them questioning among themselves, highlighting their internal self-examination.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study