Bible Strands
John 6:70
Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the Twelve immediately after their confession that He is the Holy One of God. He speaks this warning while still in the midst of the group, before identifying the betrayer in the following verse.
The words — The Greek ἀπεκρίθη (apekrithē) literally means "answered," marking a direct response to their confession. The phrase οὐκ ἐγώ (ouk egō) translates to "have I not I," emphasizing His personal agency in selecting the Twelve.
The thread — The theme of chosen individuals harboring betrayal or unbelief appears in John 6:64, where Jesus notes He knew from the start which would not believe. John 13:2 and John 13:27 later trace the same trajectory, showing how the devil's influence operates within the inner circle.
Why it lands — The text states that chosen status does not guarantee faithfulness, as Jesus explicitly identifies one of the Twelve as a devil. It demands a reader to acknowledge that divine calling and human treachery can coexist until the moment of revelation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Cross-references
- John 13:27 And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
- 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 6:64 However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)
- John 17:12 While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
- John 13:18 I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
- Revelation 3:9 As for those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you.
- Luke 6:13 When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:
- John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
- John 13:21 After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
- John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.