John 12:6

12:6 (Now Judas ¹  said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, ²  he used to steal what was put into it.) ³ 

John 13:2

13:2 The evening meal ⁴  was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart ⁵  of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray ⁶  Jesus. ⁷ 

John 13:27

13:27 And after Judas ⁸  took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. ⁹  Jesus said to him, ¹⁰  “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

[12:6]  ¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:6]  ² tn Grk “a thief, and having the money box.” Dividing the single Greek sentence improves the English style.

[12:6]  ³ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. This is one of the indications in the gospels that Judas was of bad character before the betrayal of Jesus. John states that he was a thief and had responsibility for the finances of the group. More than being simply a derogatory note about Judas’ character, the inclusion of the note at this particular point in the narrative may be intended to link the frustrated greed of Judas here with his subsequent decision to betray Jesus for money. The parallel accounts in Matthew and Mark seem to indicate that after this incident Judas went away immediately and made his deal with the Jewish authorities to deliver up Jesus. Losing out on one source of sordid gain, he immediately went out and set up another.

[13:2]  ⁴ tn Or “Supper.” To avoid possible confusion because of different regional English usage regarding the distinction between “dinner” and “supper” as an evening meal, the translation simply refers to “the evening meal.”

[13:2]  ⁵ sn At this point the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. C. K. Barrett (St. John, 365) thought this was a reference to the idea entering the devil’s own heart, but this does not seem likely. It is more probable that Judas’ heart is meant, since the use of the Greek article (rather than a possessive pronoun) is a typical idiom when a part of one’s own body is indicated. Judas’ name is withheld until the end of the sentence for dramatic effect (emphasis). This action must be read in light of 13:27, and appears to refer to a preliminary idea or plan.

[13:2]  ⁶ tn Or “that he should hand over.”

[13:2]  ⁷ tn Grk “betray him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:27]  ⁸ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:27]  ⁹ tn Grk “into that one”; the pronoun “he” is more natural English style here.

[13:27]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “Then Jesus said to him.”