Matthew 26:22

22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?"

Matthew 26:22 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 26:22

And they were exceeding sorrowful
Partly that Christ should be betrayed at all, into the hands of his enemies, by whom they knew he would be ill used; and partly, that so vile an action should be done, by one from among themselves; and greatly, because they knew not, nor could not conceive, who of them could be guilty of such an horrid sin:

and began everyone of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
excepting Judas, who afterwards spoke for himself. This they said, though conscious to themselves the thing had never entered into their hearts; nor had they taken any step towards it, but with their whole souls abhorred it; yet, as knowing the treachery and deceitfulness, of their hearts, which they could not trust to; and fearing lest should they be left thereunto, they might commit such a dreadful iniquity; and as desirous of being cleared by Christ from any such imputation, and even from all suspicion of anything of this kind.

Matthew 26:22 In-Context

20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve;
21 and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."
22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23 He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."
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.