John 13:22

In this verse we have an effect of this discovery among the disciples, that as men amazed they look one upon another, being ignorant of whom he spake. Their looking one upon another may be supposed, partly, to flow from their general amazement, and partly, from their desire (who were conscious to themselves, of no such intentions) to know by one anothers countenances who was the guilty man. And it is like, that at first they gazed one upon another through amazement, not knowing who might be the man, from which followed their particular enquiry at Christ, Matth. 26.21, 22. And that afterward being somewhat more confirmed, they looked if they could discover it by any Symptomes in others, which not succeeding, Peter takes another course, in the following purpose. Doct. 1. There may such things fall forth in the Church, and be acted by members thereof, as will surprize true Professours with astonishment and amazement, who could never have beleeved such naughtinesse to be in their societies; for, so doth the disciples carriage, upon this intimation, evidence. 2. When the Lord makes any intimation of a defection to be in the Church, sincere Professours will be jealous, and put to search themselves whether they be guilty or not; for, upon this intimation of but one among twelve, all of them looked one upon another, doubting of whom he spake: and albeit they were not conscious to themselves of any such wicked purpose, yet since he had spoken, all of them are jealous, and enquire concerning themselves, as the other Evangelists observe. As for Judas, it is only marked that he enquired last of all, rather to hide himself from the rest, then for any other end. 3. It is an evidence of sincere Professors, that they truly abhorre all treachery against their Master, and will desire to know who are guilty of it, that they may abhorre it in them: for, their looking one on another, (together with their enquiry concerning themselves) doubting of whom he spake, intimates also their abhorrency of that crime, with their desire to know who was guilty of it. 4. Albeit Christ, sometime, give very clear intimation of some defection to be among his followers; yet he useth not to discover who the treacheron hypocrites are, till they decipher themselves; for, albeit he had warned them of the treachery of one of their number, yet they doubted of whom in particular he spake, as not being particularly named. 5, Treacherous hypocrites may lurk so close, and carry matters so faire, as none can spie them out before they discover themselves, unlesse Christ extraordinarily reveal and point them out: for, Judas in this businesse put on such a countenance, as when they looked about, yet they still doubted of whom he spake, and Peter and John are put to another shift to finde him out.