3Then the Adversary entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. [22:4] Going away, he spoke with the chief priests and temple officers about how he might hand him over to them. [22:5] They were glad and agreed to give him silver. [22:6] So he openly pledged to do it, and was seeking an opportunity to hand him over to them away from the crowd.
LUK 22:3-6
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Jewish context, Satan was understood not merely as a symbolic adversary but as a malevolent spiritual force actively opposing God’s purposes. Judas’s decision to betray Jesus would have been seen as an act of handing over, a term used in legal or transactional settings, often implying a transfer of custody. The chief priests and temple captains (likely the officers of the temple guard) were part of the religious elite who maintained order under Roman oversight. Their willingness to pay Judas reflects the transactional nature of betrayal in a society where honor and loyalty were paramount. Judas’s search for an opportunity to betray Jesus “apart from the crowd” underscores the political tension surrounding Jesus’s ministry; the authorities feared public unrest. The mention of Satan entering Judas would have evoked Jewish apocalyptic thought, where spiritual forces influenced human actions. Judas’s formal agreement with the authorities highlights the gravity of his decision, framed as a public and binding commitment.
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How other translations render this
LUK 22:3
- KJV
- Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
- BSB
- Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.
- Koinōnos
- Then the Adversary entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
LUK 22:4
- KJV
- And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
- BSB
- And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.
- Koinōnos
- Going away, he spoke with the chief priests and temple officers about how he might hand him over to them.
LUK 22:5
- KJV
- And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
- BSB
- They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
- Koinōnos
- They were glad and agreed to give him silver.
LUK 22:6
- KJV
- And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
- BSB
- Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.
- Koinōnos
- So he openly pledged to do it, and was seeking an opportunity to hand him over to them away from the crowd.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 22:3
- Entered:The word translated 'entered' often implied a purposeful or significant entrance, not just a casual coming in. It suggests a deeper penetration or influence.
- <the>:The term used here, often translated 'Satan,' is a Hebrew word meaning 'adversary' or 'opponent.' It emphasizes the role of this figure as one who opposes or accuses.
LUK 22:4
- to them:The word translated 'deliver' carried a broad meaning of handing over, whether for safekeeping, transmission, or, as here, for betrayal. It implies a transfer of authority or possession.
LUK 22:6
- he promised:The word translated 'he promised' often meant to agree or confess openly and publicly, sometimes with a sense of acknowledging a debt or obligation. It suggests a formal or explicit agreement.