John 13:21

21 When Jesus had thus said, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Verily, verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray Me."

John 13:21 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:21

When Jesus had thus said
Having spoken of the mission of his disciples by him, of their reception among men, and the notice that would be taken of it by him:

he was troubled in spirit;
in his soul, which shows him to be truly and really man, and to have an human soul, which some have denied; and that to be of like passions with ours, only without sin: he was troubled, not at what he had said, but at what he was about to say concerning the betrayer; and that not so much on his own account, because of the danger, the sorrows, and sufferings he should be exposed to, as on account of the horrible blackness of the crime, and the vengeance that would fall upon the criminal; and being thus inwardly distressed at this affair,

he testified and said:
he spake out openly and plainly, what he had before secretly intimated, and that with the greatest certainty:

verily, verily, I say unto you;
it is truth, it may be believed, however unexpected and strange it may seem to be:

that one of you shall betray me;
to the chief priests and elders, in order to be put to death.

John 13:21 In-Context

19 Now I tell you before it come that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He.

20 Verily, verily I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me, receiveth Him that sentMe."

21 When Jesus had thus said, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Verily, verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray Me."

22 Then the disciples looked at one another, not knowing of whom He spoke.

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.