Luke 22:47
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights Judas as "one of the twelve," a chilling detail emphasizing the profound betrayal not from an outsider, but from within Jesus' closest circle. This inclusion underscores that the deepest wounds can come from those we trust most, making the act of betrayal all the more devastating.
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, just after praying intensely. Suddenly, a large crowd appears, led by Judas, one of Jesus' own disciples, who identifies Jesus with a kiss. This marks the dramatic beginning of Jesus' arrest and subsequent Passion, as the forces of darkness move to seize Him.
Imagine the scene: Jesus is in prayer, His closest friends nearby, and then a familiar face appears, leading a mob. This isn't just any crowd; it's a betrayal by someone chosen.
Luke emphasizes that Judas was 'one of the twelve.' This detail isn't accidental. It highlights the depth of the betrayal – not from an outsider, but from someone intimately familiar with Jesus, someone who shared in His ministry and was entrusted with His confidence. This insider knowledge made Judas’s betrayal particularly devastating and symbolic.
Why a kiss? In a world without cell phones, how did this simple gesture become the deadly signal for Jesus's arrest?
The kiss, usually a sign of affection and respect, is here twisted into a tool of ultimate treachery. The original languages and context suggest this was a pre-arranged signal, a chilling contrast between appearance and reality.
This moment of betrayal wasn't sudden but the culmination of Judas' prior dealings with the chief priests, who feared the crowds and needed a discreet arrest at night.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Last Supper with Disciples
Jesus shared a final Passover meal with His twelve disciples, instituting the Lord's Supper and predicting Judas' betrayal.
c. AD 30
Jesus Praying in Gethsemane
After the Last Supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, experiencing intense anguish and asking His disciples to watch with Him.
c. AD 30
Judas Arrives with the Crowd
Judas led a large crowd, including temple guards and Roman soldiers, to the place where Jesus was praying.
c. AD 30
The Betrayal and Arrest
Judas identified Jesus with a kiss, leading to His arrest despite Peter's attempt to resist.
c. AD 30
This passage parallels Luke's account, describing the arrival of the crowd led by Judas with the same detail of the kiss as the signal for Jesus' arrest.
John 18:3John also describes Judas arriving with a detachment of soldiers and officers, highlighting the kiss as the specific sign to identify Jesus.
Acts 1:16This passage, spoken by Peter, refers back to Judas's betrayal, calling him 'a guide to those who arrested Jesus,' which aligns with his leading the crowd in Luke.
Psalm 41:9This Old Testament psalm is quoted in the New Testament as a prophecy fulfilled by Judas's betrayal, showing the ancient foreshadowing of such treachery even from a close companion.
barnesLuke 22:47: "And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him."
See this explained in Matthew 26:48-56 .
expositorsLuke 22:47: "And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him."
Chapter 25THE PASSION. Luke 22:47-71 - Luke 23:1-56 WHILE Jesus kept His sad watch in Gethsemane, treading the winepress alone, His enemies kept theirs in the city. The step of Judas, as he passed out into the night, went verberating within the house of the high priest, and onwards into the palace of Pilate himself, awaking a thousand…
The verse highlights Judas as "one of the twelve," a chilling detail emphasizing the profound betrayal not from an outsider, but from within Jesus' closest circle. This inclusion underscores that the deepest wounds can come from those we trust most, making the act of betrayal all the more devastating.
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, just after praying intensely. Suddenly, a large crowd appears, led by Judas, one of Jesus' own disciples, who identifies Jesus with a kiss. This marks the dramatic beginning of Jesus' arrest and subsequent Passion, as the forces of darkness move to seize Him.
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, just after praying intensely. Suddenly, a large crowd appears, led by Judas, one of Jesus' own disciples, who identifies Jesus with a kiss. This marks the dramatic beginning of Jesus' arrest and subsequent Passion, as the forces of darkness move to seize Him.
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Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
Jesus was taken to the high priest Caiaphas and questioned by the Sanhedrin, where He was accused of blasphemy.
c. AD 30
Peter Denies Jesus
While Jesus was being questioned, Peter, outside the high priest's courtyard, denied knowing Jesus three times.
c. AD 30
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
Jesus was then brought before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, and subsequently sent to Herod Antipas, before being returned to Pilate.
"While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him," — The verse highlights Judas as "one of the twelve," a chilling detail emphasizing the profound betrayal not from an outsider, but from within Jesus' closest circle. This inclusion underscores that the…
