Luke 22 47

Luke 22:47 kjv

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.

Luke 22:47 nkjv

And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.

Luke 22:47 niv

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,

Luke 22:47 esv

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,

Luke 22:47 nlt

But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss.

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 47 Meaning

Luke 22:47 describes the moment leading to Jesus' arrest, emphasizing the sudden appearance of a large crowd led by Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve disciples. It highlights Judas' specific action of approaching Jesus to deliver a treacherous kiss, which served as the predetermined sign for His identification and capture. This verse encapsulates the profound betrayal of Jesus by one of His inner circle, set against the backdrop of His recent agony and prayer in Gethsemane. It signifies the commencement of the final stages of Jesus' passion.

Luke 22 47 Context

Luke 22:47 occurs in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately after Jesus' agonizing prayer where He submitted His will to the Father's and accepted His impending suffering and death. His disciples had failed to stay awake and pray with Him, despite His warning. The verse signals the end of Jesus' quiet preparation and the beginning of His physical suffering at the hands of men. It follows directly from Jesus' discussion with His disciples about being prepared, almost in immediate contrast to their unpreparedness. This scene also follows the institution of the Lord's Supper and Jesus' prophecy of His betrayal by Judas.

Luke 22 47 Word analysis

• While He was still speaking (Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος, Eti autou lalountos):
  • "still speaking": This phrase emphasizes the immediate transition from Jesus' deep, prayerful discourse to the harsh reality of His arrest. It suggests a seamless move from the spiritual battle to the physical confrontation. The participle "λαλοῦντος" (lalountos, from laleo) denotes an ongoing action, implying Jesus was in the midst of conveying vital truths or offering His final words to His Father or disciples when interrupted.
• behold (ἰδοὺ, idou):
  • "behold": An interjection used frequently in biblical Greek, idou serves to draw the reader's immediate attention to a sudden, significant, or unexpected event. It functions as a dramatic marker, signaling the introduction of a critical turn in the narrative, heightening the sense of impending crisis.
• a crowd (ὄχλος, ochlos):
  • "a crowd": Ochlos refers to a large, often unstructured gathering of people, a multitude. Here, it denotes the arresting party, possibly composed of temple guards, Roman soldiers, and Jewish officials, signifying a considerable, overwhelming force dispatched to seize one man.
• came (παραγεγονώς, paragegonos):
  • "came": This is a perfect participle, indicating that the crowd had arrived and was present, an accomplished fact. It portrays a sudden and completed action, signifying their materialization at the location, underscoring the swift and deliberate execution of their mission.
• and the one called Judas (καὶ ὁ καλούμενος Ἰούδας, kai ho kaloumenos Ioudas):
  • "Judas": While a common name, "Judas" here immediately identifies the specific individual associated with betrayal in Christian tradition. "The one called Judas" emphasizes his known identity to the reader.
• one of the twelve (εἷς τῶν δώδεκα, heis tōn dōdeka):
  • "one of the twelve": This designation highlights the extreme nature of the betrayal. It wasn't an outsider but one from Jesus' most intimate circle of followers, a disciple who had shared in His ministry, seen His miracles, and heard His teachings. This specific phrasing accentuates the depth of personal treachery.
• was leading them (προήρχετο αὐτοὺς, proērcheto autous):
  • "was leading them": The imperfect verb proērcheto signifies that Judas was actively at the forefront, guiding the crowd. This demonstrates his proactive and committed role in orchestrating Jesus' capture, not merely being a passive participant. He knew the location (Jn 18:2) and deliberately led them there.
• He approached Jesus (ἤγγισεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ, ēggisen tō Iēsou):
  • "He approached": Ēggisen (from engizō) means to draw near or come close. It denotes a deliberate, physical closing of distance, creating an intimate, personal, yet horrifyingly deceptive encounter.
• to kiss Him (φιλῆσαι αὐτόν, philēsai auton):
  • "to kiss Him": The Greek word philēsai (from phileō) indicates a kiss of affection, friendship, or greeting. In this context, it is utterly ironic and stands as the quintessential symbol of treachery, where a gesture of warmth and loyalty is twisted into the ultimate act of betrayal and identification for arrest. It embodies the deceptive nature of sin and human malice.

Luke 22 47 Bonus section

The specific time "While He was still speaking" ties into the sense of an unavoidable divine timetable for Jesus' passion. Even as Jesus completed His prayerful submission, the events that would lead to His crucifixion were already in motion, orchestrated by a combination of human malice and divine will. The crowd is described in Greek as an ochlos, a somewhat disordered mass, yet they are precisely led by Judas, indicating a purposeful, albeit dark, leadership within that chaotic energy. The kiss as a sign, though abhorrent, confirms Jesus' earlier prophecies about betrayal, showing that not even the method of betrayal was outside of His divine foreknowledge and purpose. This moment fulfills elements of prophecy concerning betrayal from within one's own company (Psa 41:9), providing a theological layer of God's redemptive plan unfolding despite human wickedness.

Luke 22 47 Commentary

Luke 22:47 provides a stark, vivid snapshot of the ultimate act of betrayal against the Son of God. The seamless transition from Jesus' agonizing prayer to the arrival of the mob emphasizes divine sovereignty over chaotic human actions. The immediate presence of Judas, one "of the twelve," underscores the profound, shocking nature of the treachery, making it an offense not just from an enemy but from an insider, one who had shared life and ministry with Jesus. Judas' proactive role in "leading them" shows his complete commitment to his dark purpose, driven by Satan's influence (Lk 22:3) and his own avarice. The chosen sign, a kiss—a universal gesture of intimacy and affection—is transformed into a horrifying emblem of deceit. This perversion of a loving gesture perfectly illustrates the cunning and deceptive nature of sin, revealing a stark contrast between Judas' outward action and his corrupt inner intent. Jesus, though fully aware of the plot (Lk 22:21, Jn 6:70-71), allowed this event to unfold, signifying His voluntary submission to the Father's will and the beginning of the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sin. This moment highlights the cost of discipleship and the ever-present danger of spiritual falling away, even for those in close proximity to the Divine. It stands as a timeless warning against hypocrisy and the love of worldly gain over true devotion.