Bible Strands
Luke 22:6
Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Judas acts after the chief priests and temple officials agree to pay him (Luke 22:5), immediately before the Passover preparations begin (Luke 22:7). He operates privately, deliberately avoiding the public crowds that would otherwise obstruct his plan.
The words — ἐξωμολόγησεν (exōmologēsen) means he formally promised or consented, and εὐκαιρίαν (eukairian) denotes a timely opportunity. The text records his deliberate search for a moment when Jesus could be handed over without public interference.
The thread — This search for a quiet moment aligns with the same concern recorded in Matthew 26:5 and Mark 14:2, where the conspirators explicitly avoid the feast to prevent a riot. The narrative thread tracks how religious leaders coordinate a clandestine arrest outside the festival period.
Why it lands — It demands recognition that betrayal operates through calculated timing rather than sudden impulse. The reader must note the plain sequence of agreement, planning, and execution before drawing theological conclusions about providence or guilt.
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
And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:5 “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
- Mark 14:2 “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”