John 13:21

21 After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

John 13:21 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:21

When Jesus had thus said
Having spoken of the mission of his disciples by him, of their reception among men, and the notice that would be taken of it by him:

he was troubled in spirit;
in his soul, which shows him to be truly and really man, and to have an human soul, which some have denied; and that to be of like passions with ours, only without sin: he was troubled, not at what he had said, but at what he was about to say concerning the betrayer; and that not so much on his own account, because of the danger, the sorrows, and sufferings he should be exposed to, as on account of the horrible blackness of the crime, and the vengeance that would fall upon the criminal; and being thus inwardly distressed at this affair,

he testified and said:
he spake out openly and plainly, what he had before secretly intimated, and that with the greatest certainty:

verily, verily, I say unto you;
it is truth, it may be believed, however unexpected and strange it may seem to be:

that one of you shall betray me;
to the chief priests and elders, in order to be put to death.

John 13:21 In-Context

19 I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.

20 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”

21 After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

22 The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant.

23 One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.