John 12:4

Modern

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,

Traditional

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

Literal

But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, being about to betray Him, says,

Latin

Dixit ergo unus ex discipulis ejus, Judas Iscariotes, qui erat eum traditurus:

Greek

English

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,

In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time.
First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13).
Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well.
John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before Passover (12:1–11, 12–19, 20–36). Then he explains why most of the people refused to believe and describes the final public message spoken by Jesus (12:37–50).

Theme notes and profiles

Matthew 10:4
Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
1 Samuel 17:28–29
Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”
John 13:2
The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
John 18:2–5
Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
John 13:26
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
Luke 6:16
Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
John 6:70–71
Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
Ecclesiastes 4:4
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Judas: The apostle who betrayed Jesus Simon: Father of Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus