John 13:21

21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will 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 I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.
20 Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me."
21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me."
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking.
23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him;
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.