Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 14:19

"They began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I?" — Mark 14:19 (ASV)

The response of the disciples to Jesus’ startling disclosure was one of sadness and self-distrust. One by one, including Judas (Matthew 26:25), they asked Jesus, “Surely not I?” It was an honest question coming from most of them, prompted by fear and lack of confidence in their own spiritual and moral strength. With Judas it was hypocritical and an attempt to cover his intent; for him not to have asked the question with the other disciples would have made him liable to suspicion.