John 13 27

John 13:27 kjv

And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

John 13:27 nkjv

Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."

John 13:27 niv

As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly."

John 13:27 esv

Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."

John 13:27 nlt

When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, "Hurry and do what you're going to do."

John 13 verses

John 13 27 Meaning

John 13:27 records a pivotal moment at the Last Supper: after Jesus gave a morsel of bread to Judas Iscariot, Satan immediately entered into Judas. This marked the complete spiritual possession and control of Judas by Satan, transforming Judas into the direct agent for the betrayal of Jesus. Understanding Judas's hardened heart, Jesus then commanded him, "What you do, do quickly," not as an instruction to commit the evil act, but as an assertion of Jesus's divine sovereignty and control over the timing of the unfolding divine plan, accelerating His own path to the cross.

John 13 27 Context

The verse occurs during the Last Supper, a Passover meal, where Jesus is with His disciples just hours before His crucifixion. Prior to this, Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, demonstrating humility and foreshadowing the cleansing of sin (John 13:1-11). He then declared that one of them would betray Him (John 13:21). The disciples were perplexed, and Peter urged John to ask Jesus for clarification. Jesus identified the betrayer as the one to whom He would give the dipped morsel (John 13:23-26). The act of sharing food, especially a dipped morsel, was typically a sign of hospitality and honor in ancient Middle Eastern culture. Jesus, in offering this sign of honor even to His betrayer, revealed the profound tragedy of Judas's rejection. Immediately following this moment of shared intimacy and Jesus's definitive revelation, John 13:27 records the ultimate surrender of Judas to the forces of evil. This event marks a critical turning point, as the plan for Jesus's crucifixion now rapidly moves toward its climax.

John 13 27 Word analysis

• Then after the morsel, (Greek: kai meta to psōmion)

  • Then: Signifies immediate consequence and chronological progression of events.
  • after the morsel: Refers to the psōmion (ψωμίον), a piece of dipped bread. In this context, it was given by Jesus to Judas (Jn 13:26). While culturally a sign of honor and fellowship, for Judas it becomes a catalyst for spiritual entry. It marks a decisive boundary—Judas accepted the bread, then his spiritual state finalized.

• Satan entered into him. (Greek: eisēlthen eis ekeinon ho Satanas)

  • Satan: Satanas (Σατανᾶς), the transliteration of the Hebrew "adversary." This is not a metaphor or abstract force, but a personal, malevolent spiritual being, the chief of fallen angels.
  • entered into him: eisēlthen eis ekeinon (εἰσῆλθεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον) - This Greek phrase denotes a profound and full indwelling, a complete taking possession. It goes beyond mere influence or temptation (as described in Lk 22:3 and Jn 13:2). It signifies Judas's complete surrender to evil, where Satan gained unhindered control over his will and actions.

• Then Jesus said to him, (Greek: legei oun autō ho Iēsous)

  • Then Jesus said to him: This shows Jesus's immediate and direct address to Judas. It highlights Jesus's divine awareness of what had just transpired and His unshakeable authority. He speaks to the possessed Judas, demonstrating command over the situation.

• "What you do, do quickly." (Greek: Ho poieis poiēson tachion)

  • What you do: Ho poieis (ὃ ποιεῖς) - A statement of existing intent and determined action by Judas. Jesus acknowledges that Judas's will is set, and his path is chosen. It is not an instruction to betray, but a recognition of Judas's choice to betray.
  • do quickly: poiēson tachion (ποίησον τάχιον) - poiēson is an aorist imperative, a command to "do it." tachion is a comparative adverb, meaning "more quickly," "as quickly as possible," or "with speed." This is a command from Jesus that demonstrates His sovereignty, urging the rapid execution of the betrayal. Jesus is not passive but actively orchestrating the timeline of the divine plan, compelling the swift fulfillment of prophecies and the coming of His redemptive suffering. It expresses Jesus's perfect control, even over the acts of His enemies.

• "Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him..."

  • This juxtaposition emphasizes the direct confrontation between spiritual evil (Satan's entry) and divine authority (Jesus's command). Despite Satan's temporary victory over Judas, Jesus remains completely in control of the situation and its timing.

• "What you do, do quickly."

  • This phrase encapsulates Jesus's full knowledge of the betrayal and His purposeful embrace of His suffering. It demonstrates that the events leading to the cross were not an accident or a thwarting of God's will, but rather the sovereign execution of His plan of salvation.

John 13 27 Bonus section

The profound significance of "Satan entered into him" lies in its distinction from mere temptation. Many are tempted by evil, but a full indwelling by Satan signifies a complete capitulation of the will to the adversary. This condition is described in strong terms because Judas had consistently resisted the truth and opened his heart to greed (John 12:6), ultimately creating an avenue for this spiritual takeover. This verse thus serves as a stark warning about the danger of an unrepentant and increasingly hardened heart. While God used Judas's sin for His redemptive purposes, Judas remained fully responsible for his choices and faced the consequences. Jesus's words also highlight the voluntary nature of the Son of God's suffering. He allowed His passion to proceed, taking active control even over the actions of His betrayer, affirming His divine mission and commitment to redemption. This moment signals that no force, human or demonic, could ultimately derail the divine plan; rather, all acts were integrated into God's sovereign design.

John 13 27 Commentary

John 13:27 is a profoundly solemn verse that underscores the spiritual reality behind the betrayal of Christ. Satan's full entry into Judas signifies the culmination of Judas's rejection of light and his complete surrender to evil. It's a progression from influence (John 13:2, Lk 22:3) to indwelling, rendering Judas a willing instrument for the devil's purposes. However, even in this moment of deep darkness, Jesus maintains ultimate authority. His command, "What you do, do quickly," is not an endorsement of evil but a majestic declaration of His sovereignty. He is not surprised or delayed; rather, He actively orchestrates the swift progression of events, hastening His path to the cross. This demonstrates that even the darkest act of betrayal fits into God's larger, redemptive plan, fulfilling prophecy and securing salvation. The immediate departure of Judas into the night (John 13:30) dramatically sets in motion the final stages of Christ's Passion.Example: Just as a director signals a cue to accelerate a critical scene, Jesus prompts Judas, knowing his pre-determined act, to quicken the pace of God's redemptive drama.