John 6:70

70 Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil."

John 6:70 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:70

Jesus answered them
The disciples, taking Peter's answer to his question, as delivered in the name of them all, and as expressing their mind and sense:

have not I chosen you twelve;
not to grace and glory, to holiness and happiness; though this was true of eleven of them, but to be apostles:

and one of you is a devil?
or like to one, is a deceiver, a liar, and a murderer, as the devil is from the beginning; all which Judas was, and appeared to be, in the betraying of his master. The Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "is Satan"; which name, if given to Peter, as it once was on a certain occasion, ( Matthew 16:23 ) , might very well be given to Judas; who, notwithstanding his profession of faith in Christ, was in the hands and kingdom of Satan, and under his influence and power: and this our Lord said, partly that they might not too much presume upon their faith and love, and steady attachment, and be over confident of their standing; and partly, to prepare them for the apostasy of one from among them.

John 6:70 In-Context

68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
70 Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil."
71 He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.