John 13:24 kjv
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
John 13:24 nkjv
Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.
John 13:24 niv
Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
John 13:24 esv
so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
John 13:24 nlt
Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, "Who's he talking about?"
John 13 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 41:9 | Even my close friend, someone I trusted, who shared my bread, has turned against me. | Prophecy of betrayal by a trusted friend. |
| Psa 55:12-14 | If an enemy were insulting me… but it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend... | Lamentation over betrayal by a trusted intimate. |
| Zech 11:12-13 | I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay…." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver... | Prophecy of the price of betrayal, fulfilled by Judas. |
| John 6:64 | For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. | Jesus' foreknowledge of the betrayer. |
| John 18:4 | Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" | Jesus' awareness of His impending arrest. |
| Matt 26:21 | And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." | Parallel account of Jesus announcing the betrayal. |
| Mark 14:18 | While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me." | Parallel account of the betrayer's revelation. |
| Luke 22:21-22 | But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table... | Parallel account highlighting the betrayer's presence. |
| Matt 16:22-23 | Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him... Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" | Illustrates Peter's outspoken and sometimes misguided zeal. |
| John 13:6-9 | He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"... Peter said, "No; never wash my feet!" | Peter's characteristic initial resistance followed by enthusiastic acceptance. |
| John 21:7 | Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that... he threw himself into the sea. | Peter's impulsive action when recognizing Jesus, aided by John's discernment. |
| Mark 14:29 | Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." | Peter's strong, self-confident declarations. |
| John 13:23 | One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. | Establishes John's position of physical proximity to Jesus. |
| John 19:26-27 | When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said... "Here is your son." | John's privileged place in Jesus' life, even at the cross. |
| John 20:2 | So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said... | John often appears with Peter, with a special mention of his relationship to Jesus. |
| John 21:20 | Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back on Jesus’ chest...). | Reconfirms John as the beloved disciple and his earlier close posture. |
| Matt 26:20-25 | When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve... "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread..." | Broader context of the Last Supper and Jesus' method of revelation. |
| Mark 4:34 | He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. | Jesus' practice of explaining truths privately to His disciples. |
| John 15:15 | I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. | Jesus reveals truths to His intimate disciples. |
| Matt 26:22 | They were very sad and began to say to him one after another, "Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?" | Disciples' personal distress and question, similar to Peter's intent. |
| Luke 22:3 | Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. | Direct explanation for Judas's action, a key background point. |
| John 13:27 | As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. | Immediate follow-up of Judas's identification and Satan's entry. |
John 13 verses
John 13 24 Meaning
John 13:24 describes Simon Peter's urgent request to the disciple "whom Jesus loved" (John, as contextually identified) during the Last Supper. Following Jesus' unsettling announcement that one of them would betray Him, and seeing the beloved disciple reclining close to Jesus, Peter gestured and whispered to John, imploring him to discretely ask Jesus to reveal the identity of the betrayer. This moment underscores the disciples' profound consternation, Peter's characteristic initiative, and John's unique intimacy with the Lord.
John 13 24 Context
John 13:24 takes place during the solemn Last Supper, a Passover meal, on the eve of Jesus' crucifixion. Following His act of humility in washing the disciples' feet, Jesus declares the deeply unsettling truth that one of His own chosen disciples will betray Him (John 13:21). This announcement causes profound distress and confusion among the Twelve (John 13:22), who begin to look at one another, uncertain of the betrayer's identity. Simon Peter, known for his directness and leadership, is seemingly unable to ask Jesus directly, perhaps due to his position at the table, the solemnity of the moment, or the desire for discretion. The physical setting of a reclining meal, where diners would lean on their left elbow, facilitated closer communication among those seated next to each other. The beloved disciple, commonly understood to be John, was positioned most intimately next to Jesus, making him the natural intermediary for Peter's urgent inquiry.
John 13 24 Word analysis
- Simon Peter: The most prominent and often impulsive disciple. His direct yet somewhat constrained action in this verse is consistent with his character—always eager to know, always taking initiative.
- therefore: This conjunction links Peter's action directly to Jesus' announcement of the betrayal in verse 21, indicating his response to the tension and confusion among the disciples.
- beckoned: (Greek: ἔνευσεν, eneusen - from νεύω, neuō, meaning "to nod" or "to signal by nodding or waving"). This highlights a silent, urgent gesture, necessitated by the public setting of the meal and the desire for discretion regarding such a grave topic. It implies an attempt to communicate privately without drawing undue attention from everyone at the table.
- to him: Refers to "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (identified in the preceding verse, John 13:23), widely understood as John, the author of this Gospel. This disciple's proximity to Jesus at the table made him the ideal intermediary.
- and said unto him: Indicates that after the initial gesture, Peter added whispered words to make his request explicit. The gesture alone might have prompted John to lean closer.
- "Ask": (Greek: ἐροῦ, erou - an imperative from ἐρέω, ereō, "to ask, question, enquire"). This is a direct command from Peter, conveying his strong desire for an answer and his expectation that John's close position enables this direct inquiry.
- "who it should be": (Greek: τίς ἐστιν, tis estin, literally "who it is"). This is the heart of Peter's query, an urgent demand for a specific identification of the betrayer.
- "of whom he spake": (Greek: περὶ οὗ λέγει, peri hou legei, "concerning whom He speaks"). This phrase clarifies the subject of the inquiry, referring back to Jesus' preceding declaration about the betrayer in John 13:21, ensuring John understood the precise nature of Peter's concern.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him": This phrase captures Peter's active but indirect approach. It underscores his desire to know, coupled with an understanding that his usual outspokenness might be out of place or ineffective in this sensitive moment, requiring him to rely on another.
- "and said unto him, 'Ask who it should be of whom he spake.'": This entire command reveals the disciples' collective anxiety and confusion. Peter, though bold, acknowledges John's privileged access to Jesus' immediate presence and chooses to work through him. It is an expression of deep concern over the shocking announcement of betrayal, compelling the need for immediate clarification from the Master.
John 13 24 Bonus section
The silent gesture of "beckoning" in this scene vividly portrays the hushed intensity of the moment and the solemnity of Jesus' declaration. It implies that a direct, loud question would have been inappropriate or might have revealed too much to the betrayer too soon, thereby interfering with God's timing. Peter's action also demonstrates an implicit faith that Jesus would respond, especially to an intimate inquiry. Furthermore, the reliance of Peter, a prominent leader, on John, points to the diverse yet complementary roles within the discipleship; one providing immediate initiative, the other offering intimate access. This dynamic foreshadows their shared ministry after Jesus' resurrection, where John often accompanied Peter (Acts 3, 4, 8).
John 13 24 Commentary
John 13:24 serves as a pivot point in the unfolding drama of the Last Supper, revealing much about the dynamics within Jesus' inner circle. Peter's action highlights his characteristic leadership and burning zeal; he must know the identity of the betrayer, reflecting the shock and disbelief that gripped all the disciples. His decision to beckon John rather than directly questioning Jesus indicates not just the practical challenge of distance in their reclining positions, but also an implicit recognition of John's uniquely intimate relationship with Christ. John's closeness (John 13:23) positions him as the bridge between Peter's urgent inquiry and Jesus' direct revelation. This brief interchange, driven by the tension of impending betrayal, sets the stage for Jesus to subtly identify Judas, yet without overt accusation that might disrupt the meal further or prevent Judas from fulfilling the divine plan. The verse speaks to the urgency of truth, the various ways disciples relate to Christ (Peter's boldness, John's intimacy), and the overarching divine purpose working through human actions and interactions.