Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' command to Judas, "What you are going to do, do quickly," wasn't an encouragement to sin, but a statement of profound, weary knowledge. It signals that Judas's path is set, and Jesus, accepting His own divine appointment, is ready to move forward with His suffering and glorification.
Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just identified his betrayer to John by giving a morsel of food, a sign of intimacy. At this moment, Satan fully takes possession of Judas, prompting Jesus to tell him to go and carry out his betrayal quickly. The other disciples are confused by Jesus' words, unaware of Judas's treachery and mistakenly thinking Jesus might be sending him on an errand.
We see Satan 'entering' Judas in this verse, but was this the first time? What's the difference between a suggestion and full possession?
The verse says, 'Satan entered into him.' This wasn't Satan's first interaction with Judas. Earlier, Satan had 'put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot' (John 13:2) to betray Jesus. But the moment after Jesus gave him the sop, something intensified.
Jesus tells Judas, 'What you are going to do, do quickly.' Was Jesus commanding Judas, or was this something else entirely?
Jesus's words, 'What you are going to do, do quickly,' are often misunderstood as a permission or even an encouragement. But the context and the original language reveal a different meaning.
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Understand the original words
Satanas · Greek Noun
The adversary of God and his people, the primary tempter and the instigator of evil. Entering a person signifies total influence and control, marking a complete surrender to demonic purpose.
paradidōmi · Greek Verb
An act of moral failure or faithlessness against God, often involving deception or the abandonment of loyalty. Within the New Testament, it refers to the decisive act of turning away from God.
This moment occurs during the final Passover meal, a pivotal event leading directly to Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion, highlighting the tragic intersection of divine purpose and human betrayal.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Last Passover Meal
Jesus shares his final Passover meal with his disciples in Jerusalem, just before his crucifixion. During this meal, he institutes the Lord's Supper and shares intimate teachings.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Identifies His Betrayer
Jesus reveals to his disciples that one of them will betray him. He gives a 'sop' (a piece of bread dipped in sauce) to Judas Iscariot as a sign, identifying him as the traitor.
c. 30 AD
Judas Departs the Upper Room
After Jesus tells him, "What you are going to do, do quickly," Judas leaves the Passover meal, presumably to carry out his plan to betray Jesus to the authorities.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
Following the meal, Jesus goes with his remaining disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, knowing his 'hour' of suffering is at hand.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Arrest
Judas leads a group of soldiers and temple guards to Gethsemane, identifying Jesus with a kiss and leading to his arrest.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion
Jesus is brought before the Jewish religious authorities and then the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, leading to his condemnation and crucifixion.
This passage also mentions Satan entering Judas, showing that the move towards betrayal was a progression, culminating in this moment of full possession after the 'sop' incident.
Matthew 26:14-16This immediately precedes the Last Supper, detailing Judas's agreement with the chief priests to betray Jesus, setting the stage for the psychological battle and the ultimate surrender to Satan described in John 13.
John 6:70-71Jesus previously identified one of the twelve as a 'devil,' referring to Judas. This earlier statement highlights the long-standing awareness Jesus had of Judas's inner turmoil and the spiritual battle he was engaged in.
2 Samuel 15:10-12Absalom’s rebellion against his father David shows a similar pattern of deep-seated deception and betrayal, where trusted advisors (like Ahithophel) are influenced by wicked counsel to act against their rightful king.
James 1:14-15This passage describes how desire leads to sin, which then brings forth death, mirroring Judas's journey from a simple desire (perhaps greed or ambition) to full possession by Satan and the ultimate consequence of his betrayal.
calvinJohn 13:21-29: "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."
- When Jesus had said these words, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I tell you, that one of you will betray me. 22. The disciples, therefore, looked on one another, doubting of whom he spoke. 23. And one of the disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying at table in Jesus' bosom. 24. Therefore Simon Peter…
bensonJohn 13:27: "And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly."
John 13:27-30 . And after the sop Satan entered into him — More fully; “non secundum substantiam,” says Jerome, “sed secundum operationem,” not as to his substance, but as to his operation; as he is said to do when man’s will is fully inclined to obey his motions. Then said Jesus, That thou doest, do quickly — This is not a permission, much less a command. It is only as if he had said,…
Jesus' command to Judas, "What you are going to do, do quickly," wasn't an encouragement to sin, but a statement of profound, weary knowledge. It signals that Judas's path is set, and Jesus, accepting His own divine appointment, is ready to move forward with His suffering and glorification.
Jesus has just identified his betrayer to John by giving a morsel of food, a sign of intimacy. At this moment, Satan fully takes possession of Judas, prompting Jesus to tell him to go and carry out his betrayal quickly. The other disciples are confused by Jesus' words, unaware of Judas's treachery and mistakenly thinking Jesus might be sending him on an errand.
Jesus has just identified his betrayer to John by giving a morsel of food, a sign of intimacy. At this moment, Satan fully takes possession of Judas, prompting Jesus to tell him to go and carry out his betrayal quickly. The other disciples are confused by Jesus' words, unaware of Judas's treachery and mistakenly thinking Jesus might be sending him on an errand.
"Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”" — Jesus' command to Judas, "What you are going to do, do quickly," wasn't an encouragement to sin, but a statement of profound, weary knowledge. It signals that Judas's path is set, and Jesus, acceptin…
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Last reviewed October 2026