13:24a

So Simon Peter motioned to him: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Most Greek manuscripts just say that Simon Peter motioned to the other disciple (John). For example:

Simon motioned for that disciple to find out which one Jesus meant (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, King James Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts say that Simon Peter both motioned and said something to John. For example:

Simon Peter motioned to that disciple and said, “Ask Jesus whom he’s talking about!” (God’s Word)

(New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It seems to have the best support and most English translations follow it.

Simon Peter: Refer to this disciple as you did in 1:40 and 13:6.

motioned: The verb motioned means “signaled by moving part of one’s body.” Simon Peter moved a part of his body to signal John so he would ask Jesus whom he was talking about. You may want to translate this movement with a general word as the Berean Standard Bible did. Or you may want to use a movement that the local culture would use. For example:

Simon Petrus eye-signaled him (Uma Back Translation)
-or-
Simon Peter signalled to him (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Simon Peter nodded to him

to him: The pronoun him refers to the disciple whom Jesus loved. Refer to him in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

to that disciple (God’s Word)
-or-
to this disciple (New International Version)

13:24b

to ask Jesus which one He was talking about: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Most Greek manuscripts say that Simon Peter asked this other disciple (John) to ask Jesus whom he was talking about. For example:

to ask Jesus whom he was talking about (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, English Standard Version, Good News Translation)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts say that Simon Peter asked John to tell him whom Jesus was talking about. This would mean that Peter thought that John already knew who it was. For example:

and said, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.” (Revised Standard Version)

(New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It is the option selected by the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament committee with only a little doubt. Also, most English translations follow this option.

General Comment on 13:24b

In some languages it may not be natural to use indirect speech. Here is one way to use direct speech even though Peter did not say anything:

Simon Peter motioned to him so that he would ask Jesus, “Who are you talking about?”

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