Luke 22:6
And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 11
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐξωμολόγησεν
he promised
G1843
ἐξωμολόγησεν
he promised
Strong's:
G1843
Word #:
2 of 11
to acknowledge or (by implication, of assent) agree fully
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
3 of 11
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐζήτει
sought
G2212
ἐζήτει
sought
Strong's:
G2212
Word #:
4 of 11
to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by hebraism) to worship (god), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοῖς
him
G846
αὐτοῖς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 11
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
αὐτοῖς
him
G846
αὐτοῖς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
9 of 11
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Historical Context
Jerusalem swelled from 40,000 residents to over 200,000 during Passover, with pilgrims camping around the city. Roman governors relocated from Caesarea to Jerusalem during festivals anticipating potential messianic uprisings. Any public arrest of a popular figure risked mob violence, complicating Roman-Jewish relations.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Judas' search for 'opportunity' to betray contrast with how you should seek opportunities to serve Christ?
- What does the leaders' fear of public reaction reveal about the difference between popular opinion and true authority?
- In what ways might you be tempted to follow Christ only when it's publicly acceptable, abandoning Him when the 'multitude' isn't watching?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. Judas promised (ἐξωμολόγησεν, exōmologēsen, 'agreed/consented'), sealing the arrangement. He then sought opportunity (ἐζήτει εὐκαιρίαν, ezētei eukairan, imperfect tense of continuous action), looking for the right eukaira—a 'good season' or 'opportune time.' The crucial condition: in the absence of the multitude (ἄτερ ὄχλου, ater ochlou, 'without a crowd').
This solves the leaders' dilemma from verse 2—how to arrest Jesus without triggering a riot among Passover pilgrims who honored Him. Judas knew Jesus' patterns: prayer at Gethsemane, teaching in temple courts, movements around Jerusalem. He would identify the isolated moment for arrest. The tragic irony: Judas searched for opportunity to destroy while Jesus sought opportunity to save. Where Judas calculated timing for treachery, Christ embraced divine timing for sacrifice: 'Mine hour is come' (John 12:23).