John 6:70 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Jesus answered—have not I chosen you twelve, &c.?— "The opinion of my character and mission, which thou, O Peter, hast expressed in thine own name, and in the name of thy brethren, is just: however, I know, that you are not all agreed in this confession; for one of you is a devil, a malicious informer, and so perfectly bad a man, that he will betray me. It is true, I made choice of this very person equally with the rest, to be my apostle and companion; but from what I now tell you will happen, I hope you are convinced that I did not pitch upon so unworthy a person through ignorance of him. I was intimately acquainted with the character and dispositions of all of you, and in my choice of you had it in view to make each of you assist me, according to his qualities, whether good or bad, in carrying on the grand design that I am come to execute. By this argument, therefore, you may know that I am the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and that your faith is well founded on me." According to some great writers, our Lord intimates, that the reason why he had not more plainly declared himself to be the Messiah, was because he knew that Judas would have accused him of rebellion against the Romans, for the word Διαβολος, devil, does sometimes signify a false accuser. But there does not appear to be any proof that Judas from the beginning intended to betray Christ. It is more than probable, that he had first engaged with him principally in expectation of secular advantages; and, finding those views disappointed, he might now begin to form that detestable scheme which he afterwards executed. If this was the occasion on which he first entertained the thought, as appears highly probable, one would have expected that such an intimation of his secret wickedness would have struck him to the