John 10:33 - Acts 3:17

Holman Christian Standard Bible

³³ “We aren’t stoning^(A) You for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because You—being a man—make Yourself God.”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your scripture,^[a] I said, you are gods?^{(B)[b] 35} If He called those whom the word^(C) of God came to ‘gods’—and the Scripture^(D) cannot be broken— ³⁶ do you say, ‘You are blaspheming’ to the One the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God?^{(E) 37} If I am not doing My Father’s works,^(F) don’t believe Me. ³⁸ But if I am doing them and you don’t believe Me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand^[c] that the Father is in Me and I in the Father.”^{(G) 39} Then they were trying again to seize Him,^(H) yet He eluded their grasp.^(I)

Many beyond the Jordan Believe in Jesus

⁴⁰ So He departed again across the Jordan^(J) to the place where John^(K) had been baptizing earlier, and He remained there. ⁴¹ Many came to Him^(L) and said, “John never did a sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” ⁴² And many believed in Him there.

Lazarus Dies at Bethany

11 Now a man was sick, Lazarus, from Bethany,^(M) the village of Mary and her sister Martha.^{(N) 2} Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair,^(O) and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick. ³ So the sisters sent a message to Him: “Lord, the one You love is sick.”

⁴ When Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God,^(P) so that the Son of God^(Q) may be glorified through it.” ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. ⁶ So when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. ⁷ Then after that, He said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea^(R) again.”

⁸ “Rabbi,”^(S) the disciples told Him, “just now the Jews tried to stone You,^(T) and You’re going there again?”

⁹ “Aren’t there 12 hours in a day?” Jesus answered. “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world.^{(U) 10} If anyone walks during the night,^(V) he does stumble, because the light is not in him.” ¹¹ He said this, and then He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,^(W) but I’m on My way to wake him up.”

¹² Then the disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.”

¹³ Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought He was speaking about natural sleep. ¹⁴ So Jesus then told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. ¹⁵ I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.”

¹⁶ Then Thomas^(X) (called “Twin”) said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go so that we may die with Him.”

The Resurrection and the Life

¹⁷ When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb^(Y) four days. ¹⁸ Bethany was near Jerusalem^(Z) (about two miles^[d] away). ¹⁹ Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. ²⁰ As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house.

²¹ Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. ²² Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”

²³ “Your brother will rise^(AA) again,” Jesus told her.

²⁴ Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”^(AB)

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am^(AC) the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me,^(AD) even if he dies, will live.^{(AE) 26} Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever.^(AF) Do you believe this?”

²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she told Him, “I believe You are the Messiah,^(AG) the Son^(AH) of God, who comes into the world.”^(AI)

Jesus Shares the Sorrow of Death

²⁸ Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

²⁹ As soon as she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.^{(AJ) 30} Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. ³¹ The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb^(AK) to cry there.

³² When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet^(AL) and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!”

³³ When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry^[e] in His spirit^(AM) and deeply moved. ³⁴ “Where have you put him?” He asked.

“Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”

³⁵ Jesus wept.^(AN)

³⁶ So the Jews said, “See how He loved^(AO) him!” ³⁷ But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes^(AP) also have kept this man from dying?”

The Seventh Sign: Raising Lazarus from the Dead

³⁸ Then Jesus, angry^[f] in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.^{(AQ) 39} “Remove the stone,” Jesus said.

Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Him, “Lord, he’s already decaying.^[g] It’s been four days.”

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory^(AR) of God?”^(AS)

⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, “Father, I thank^(AT) You that You heard Me.^{(AU) 42} I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent^(AV) Me.” ⁴³ After He said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

⁴⁵ Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what He did believed in Him.^{(AW) 46} But some of them went to the Pharisees^(AX) and told them what Jesus had done.

⁴⁷ So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin^(AY) and said, “What are we going to do since this man does many signs? ⁴⁸ If we let Him continue in this way, everyone will believe in Him! Then the Romans^(AZ) will come and remove both our place^[h] and our nation.”

⁴⁹ One of them, Caiaphas,^(BA) who was high priest^(BB) that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You’re not considering that it is to your^[i] advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.”^{(BC) 51} He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die^(BD) for the nation, ⁵² and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children^(BE) of God. ⁵³ So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.^{(BF) 54} Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly^(BG) among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness,^(BH) to a town called Ephraim. And He stayed there with the disciples.

⁵⁵ The Jewish Passover^(BI) was near, and many went up to Jerusalem^(BJ) from the country to purify^[j] themselves before the Passover. ⁵⁶ They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple complex:^(BK) “What do you think? He won’t come to the festival,^(BL) will He?” ⁵⁷ The chief priests^(BM) and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it so they could arrest Him.

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany^(BN) where Lazarus^[k] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.^{(BO) 2} So^(BP) they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha^(BQ) was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair.^(BR) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

⁴ Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot^(BS) (who was about to betray Him), said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii^[l](BT) and given to the poor?” ⁶ He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.^(BU) He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

⁷ Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial.^{(BV) 8} For you always have the poor with you,^(BW) but you do not always have Me.”

The Decision to Kill Lazarus

⁹ Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead.^{(BX) 10} Therefore the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also ¹¹ because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them^[m] and believing in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

¹² The^(BY) next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ they took palm branches^(BZ) and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna!^(CA) He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One^(CB)[n]—the King of Israel!”^(CC)

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey^(CD) and sat on it, just as it is written: ¹⁵ Fear no more,^(CE) Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.^(CF)[o]

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him^(CG) and that they had done these things to Him. ¹⁷ Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb^(CH) and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.^{[p] 18} This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign.

¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look—the world has gone after Him!”^(CI)

Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion

²⁰ Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ So they came to Philip,^(CJ) who was from Bethsaida^(CK) in Galilee,^(CL) and requested of him, “Sir,^(CM) we want to see Jesus.”

²² Philip went and told Andrew;^(CN) then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³ Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man^(CO) to be glorified.

²⁴ “I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat^(CP) falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.^{[q](CQ) 25} The one who loves his life will lose it,^(CR) and the one who hates^(CS) his life^(CT) in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant^(CU) also will be.^(CV) If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor^(CW) him.

²⁷ “Now My soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save Me^(CX) from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify Your name!”^[r](CY)

Then a voice^(CZ) came from heaven:^(DA) “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!”^(DB)

²⁹ The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.

³⁰ Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for Me, but for you.^{(DC) 31} Now is the judgment of this world.^(DD) Now the ruler of this world^(DE) will be cast out.^{(DF) 32} As for Me, if I am lifted up^[s] from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.”^{(DG) 33} He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.^(DH)

³⁴ Then the crowd replied to Him, “We have heard from the scripture that the Messiah will remain forever.^(DI) So how can You say, ‘The Son of Man^(DJ) must be lifted up’?^[t] Who is this Son of Man?”

³⁵ Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer.^(DK) Walk while you have the light^(DL) so that darkness doesn’t overtake you.^(DM) The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.^{(DN) 36} While you have the light,^(DO) believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.^(DP)

Isaiah’s Prophecies Fulfilled

³⁷ Even though He had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him. ³⁸ But this was to fulfill^(DQ) the word of Isaiah^(DR) the prophet, who said:^[u]

³⁹ This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:

⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because^[x] he saw His glory^(DY) and spoke about Him.

⁴² Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers,^(DZ) but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. ⁴³ For they loved praise from men^(EA) more than praise from God.^[y](EB)

A Summary of Jesus’ Mission

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me^(EC) believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. ⁴⁵ And the one who sees Me sees Him^(ED) who sent Me. ⁴⁶ I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep^(EE) them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world^(EF) but to save the world.^{(EG) 48} The one who rejects Me^(EH) and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge:^[z] The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.^{(EI) 49} For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father^(EJ) Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak. ⁵⁰ I know that His command is eternal life.^(EK) So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”^(EL)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father.^(EM) Having loved His own who were in the world,^(EN) He loved them to the end.^[aa]

² Now by the time of supper, the Devil^(EO) had already put it into the heart of Judas,^(EP) Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray^(EQ) Him. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands,^(ER) that He had come from God,^(ES) and that He was going back to God.^{(ET) 4} So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe,^(EU) took a towel, and tied it around Himself.^{(EV) 5} Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter,^(EW) who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.”^(EX)

⁸ “You will never wash my feet—ever!” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.”

⁹ Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

¹⁰ “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For He knew who would betray Him. This is why He said, “You are not all clean.”

The Meaning of Footwashing

¹² When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined^[ab] again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? ¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. ¹⁴ So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.^{(EY) 15} For I have given you an example^(EZ) that you also should do just as I have done for you.

¹⁶ “I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master,^[ac](FA) and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.^{(FB) 18} I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen.^(FC) But the Scripture^(FD) must be fulfilled:^(FE) The one who eats My bread^[ad] has raised his heel against Me.^(FF)[ae]

¹⁹ “I am telling you now before it happens,^(FG) so that when it does happen you will believe^(FH) that I am He.^{(FI) 20} I assure you: Whoever receives anyone I send receives Me, and the one who receives^(FJ) Me receives Him who sent Me.”

Judas’s Betrayal Predicted

²¹ When^(FK) Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit^(FL) and testified,^(FM) “I assure you: One of you will betray Me!”

²² The disciples started looking at one another—uncertain which one He was speaking about. ²³ One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved,^(FN) was reclining close beside Jesus.^{[af] 24} Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about. ²⁵ So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶ Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.”^(FO) When He had dipped the bread,^(FP) He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.^{[ag] 27} After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan^(FQ) entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”

²⁸ None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this. ²⁹ Since Judas^(FR) kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,”^(FS) or that he should give something to the poor. ³⁰ After receiving the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night.^(FT)

The New Command

³¹ When^(FU) he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man^(FV) is glorified, and God is glorified^(FW) in Him.^{(FX) 32} If God is glorified in Him,^[ah] God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.

³³ “Children, I am with you a little while longer.^(FY) You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’^(FZ) so now I tell you.

³⁴ “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love^(GA) for one another.”

Peter’s Denials Predicted

³⁶ “Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going^(GB) you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

³⁷ “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life^(GC) for You!”^(GD)

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

The Way to the Father

14 “Your heart must not be troubled.^(GE) Believe^[ai] in God;^(GF) believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;^[aj] if not, I would have told you. I am going away^(GG) to prepare a place for you. ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back^(GH) and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.^{(GI) 4} You know the way to where I am going.”^[ak](GJ)

⁵ “Lord,” Thomas^(GK) said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus told him, “I am^(GL) the way,^(GM) the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus Reveals the Father

⁷ “If you know Me, you will also know^[al] My Father.^(GN) From now on you do know Him^(GO) and have seen Him.”

⁸ “Lord,” said Philip,^(GP) “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.^(GQ) How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?^(GR) The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own.^(GS) The Father who lives in Me does His works.^{(GT) 11} Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe^[am] because of the works themselves.^(GU)

Praying in Jesus’ Name

¹² “I assure you: The one who believes in Me^(GV) will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these,^(GW) because I am going to the Father.^{(GX) 13} Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified^(GY) in the Son.^{(GZ) 14} If you ask Me^[an] anything in My name,^(HA) I will do it.^[ao](HB)

Another Counselor Promised

¹⁵ “If you love Me, you will keep^[ap] My commands.^{(HC) 16} And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor^(HD) to be with you forever. ¹⁷ He is the Spirit^(HE) of truth.^(HF) The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be^[aq] in you.^{(HG) 18} I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

¹⁹ “In a little while the world will see Me no longer,^(HH) but you will see Me.^(HI) Because I live, you will live^(HJ) too. ²⁰ In that day you will know that I am in My Father,^(HK) you are in Me, and I am in you. ²¹ The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.^(HL) And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father.^(HM) I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

²² Judas^(HN) (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”^(HO)

²³ Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.^{(HP) 24} The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.^(HQ)

²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit^(HR)—the Father will send^(HS) Him in My name—will teach you all things^(HT) and remind you of everything I have told you.^(HU)

Jesus’ Gift of Peace

²⁷ “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.^{(HV) 28} You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away^(HW) and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father,^(HX) because the Father is greater than I.^{(HY) 29} I have told you now before it happens^(HZ) so that when it does happen you may believe. ³⁰ I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world^(IA) is coming. He has no power over Me.^{[ar](IB) 31} On the contrary, I am going away^[as] so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.

“Get up; let’s leave this place.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(IC) the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. ² Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes,^(ID) and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. ³ You are already clean^(IE) because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.^(IF)

⁵ “I am the vine;^(IG) you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit,^(IH) because you can do nothing without Me. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside^(II) like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire,^(IJ) and they are burned.^{(IK) 7} If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.^{(IL) 8} My Father is glorified^(IM) by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be^[at] My disciples.

Christlike Love

⁹ “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.^{(IN) 10} If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.^(IO)

¹¹ “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.^{(IP) 12} This is My command: Love one another as I have loved^(IQ) you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life^(IR) for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master^[au](IS) is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you.^(IT) I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask^(IU) the Father in My name,^(IV) He will give you.^{(IW) 17} This is what I command you: Love one another.

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁸ “If the world hates^(IX) you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen^(IY) you out of it, the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’^(IZ) If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word,^(JA) they will also keep yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things to you on account of My name,^(JB) because they don’t know^(JC) the One who sent Me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin.^[av](JD) Now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ The one who hates Me also hates My Father.^{(JE) 24} If I had not done the works^(JF) among them that no one else has done,^(JG) they would not have sin.^(JH) Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. ²⁵ But this happened so that the statement written in their scripture might be fulfilled:^(JI) They hated Me for no reason.^(JJ)[aw]

Coming Testimony and Rejection

²⁶ “When the Counselor^(JK) comes, the One I will send to you from the Father^(JL)—the Spirit of truth^(JM) who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me. ²⁷ You also will testify,^(JN) because you have been with Me from the beginning.

16 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. ² They will ban you from the synagogues.^(JO) In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service^(JP) to God. ³ They will do these things because they haven’t known^(JQ) the Father or Me. ⁴ But I have told you these things so that when their time^[ax] comes you may remember^(JR) I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

The Counselor’s Ministry

⁵ “But now I am going away^(JS) to Him who sent Me, and not one of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’^{(JT) 6} Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth.^(JU) It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you.^{(JV) 8} When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: ⁹ About sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father^(JW) and you will no longer see Me; ¹¹ and about judgment,^(JX) because the ruler of this world^(JY) has been judged.^(JZ)

¹² “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.^{(KA) 13} When the Spirit of truth^(KB) comes, He will guide you into all the truth.^(KC) For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ Everything the Father^(KD) has is Mine.^(KE) This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you.^(KF)

Sorrow Turned to Joy

¹⁶ “A little while^(KG) and you will no longer see Me;^(KH) again a little while and you will see Me.”^[ay]

¹⁷ Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this He tells us: ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’^(KI)?” ¹⁸ They said, “What is this He is saying,^[az] ‘A little while’? We don’t know what He’s talking about!”

¹⁹ Jesus knew they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’?

²⁰ “I assure you: You will weep and wail,^(KJ) but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful,^(KK) but your sorrow will turn to joy. ²¹ When a woman is in labor she has pain^(KL) because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child,^(KM) she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. ²² So you also have sorrow^[ba] now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice,^(KN) and no one will rob you of your joy.^{(KO) 23} In that day you will not ask Me anything.

“I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.^{(KP) 24} Until now you have asked for nothing in My name.^(KQ) Ask and you will receive,^(KR) so that your joy may be complete.^(KS)

Jesus the Victor

²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask^(KT) in My name.^(KU) I am not telling you that I will make requests to the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved^(KV) Me and have believed that I came from God.^{[bb](KW) 28} I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”^(KX)

²⁹ “Ah!” His disciples said. “Now You’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language. ³⁰ Now we know that You know everything^(KY) and don’t need anyone to question You. By this we believe that You came from God.”^(KZ)

³¹ Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? ³² Look: An hour is coming, and has come,^(LA) when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.^{(LB) 33} I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Jesus Prays for Himself

17 Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said:

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Jesus Prays for All Believers

Jesus Betrayed

18 After^(MX) Jesus had said these things, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it. ² Judas,^(MY) who betrayed^(MZ) Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples. ³ So Judas took a company of soldiers and some temple police from the chief priests and the Pharisees^(NA) and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

⁴ Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him,^(NB) went out and said to them, “Who is it you’re looking for?”

⁵ “Jesus the Nazarene,” they answered.

“I am He,”^[bi](NC) Jesus told them.

Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them. ⁶ When He told them, “I am He,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.

⁷ Then He asked them again, “Who is it you’re looking for?”

“Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.

⁸ “I told you I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for Me, let these men go.” ⁹ This was to fulfill^(ND) the words He had said: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”^(NE)

¹⁰ Then Simon^(NF) Peter,^(NG) who had a sword,^(NH) drew it, struck the high priest’s^(NI) slave, and cut off his right ear. (The slave’s name was Malchus.)

¹¹ At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Sheathe your sword! Am I not to drink the cup^(NJ) the Father has given Me?”

Jesus Arrested and Taken to Annas

¹² Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish temple police arrested Jesus and tied Him up. ¹³ First they led Him to Annas,^(NK) for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,^(NL) who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was advantageous that one man should die for the people.^(NM)

Peter Denies Jesus

¹⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter^(NN) was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. ¹⁶ But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

¹⁷ Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”

“I am not!” he said. ¹⁸ Now the slaves and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

Jesus before Annas

¹⁹ The high priest^(NO) questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue^(NP) and in the temple complex,^(NQ) where all the Jews congregate, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. ²¹ Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”

²² When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

²³ “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence^[bj] about the wrong; but if rightly,^(NR) why do you hit Me?”

²⁴ Then^(NS) Annas^(NT) sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Twice More

²⁵ Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

²⁶ One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”

²⁷ Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.^(NU)

Jesus before Pilate

²⁸ Then^(NV) they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.^(NW) It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

²⁹ Then Pilate^(NX) came out to them and said, “What charge^(NY) do you bring against this man?”

³⁰ They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal,^[bk] we wouldn’t have handed Him over to you.”

³¹ So Pilate told them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law.”

“It’s not legal^[bl] for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. ³² They said this so that Jesus’ words might be fulfilled signifying what kind of death He was going to die.^(NZ)

³³ Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”^(OA)

³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?”

³⁵ “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

³⁶ “My kingdom^(OB) is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world,^(OC) My servants^[bm](OD) would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.”^[bn](OE)

³⁷ “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world^(OF) for this: to testify^(OG) to the truth.^(OH) Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

³⁸ “What is truth?” said Pilate.

Jesus or Barabbas

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds^(OI) for charging Him. ³⁹ You^(OJ) have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”^(OK) Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.^[bo](OL)

Jesus Flogged and Mocked

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. ² The soldiers also twisted together a crown^(OM) of thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple robe around Him. ³ And they repeatedly came up to Him^(ON) and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping His face.

⁴ Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I’m bringing Him outside to you to let you know I find no grounds^(OO) for charging Him.”

Pilate Sentences Jesus to Death

⁵ Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.^(OP) Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”^(OQ)

⁶ When the chief priests and the temple police saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Pilate responded, “Take Him and crucify Him yourselves, for I find no grounds for charging Him.”

⁷ “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law He must die,^(OR) because He made Himself^[bp] the Son of God.”^(OS)

⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹ He went back into the headquarters^(OT) and asked Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer.^{(OU) 10} So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?”

¹¹ “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”^[bq](OV)

¹² From that moment Pilate made every effort^[br] to release Him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s bench in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Hebrew Gabbatha). ¹⁴ It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about six in the morning.^[bs] Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”

¹⁵ But they shouted, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶ So then, because of them, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

Therefore they took Jesus away.^{[bt] 17} Carrying^(OW) His own cross,^(OX) He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified Him and two others with Him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. ¹⁹ Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross. The inscription was:

²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city,^(OY) and it was written in Hebrew,^[bu] Latin, and Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’^(OZ) but that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’”

²² Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” They did this to fulfill^(PA) the Scripture^(PB) that says: They divided My clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing.^(PC)[bv] And this is what the soldiers did.

Jesus’ Provision for His Mother

²⁵ Standing^(PD) by the cross^(PE) of Jesus were His mother,^(PF) His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.^{(PG) 26} When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved^(PH) standing there, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The Finished Work of Jesus

²⁸ After^(PI) this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished^(PJ) that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!”^{(PK) 29} A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop^[bw](PL) and held it up to His mouth.

³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”^(PM) Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.^(PN)

Jesus’ Side Pierced

³¹ Since it was the preparation day,^(PO) the Jews did not want the bodies^(PP) to remain on the cross^(PQ) on the Sabbath^(PR) (for that Sabbath was a special^[bx] day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away.^{(PS) 32} So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with Him. ³³ When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead.^{(PT) 34} But one of the soldiers pierced^(PU) His side^(PV) with a spear, and at once blood and water^(PW) came out. ³⁵ He who saw this has testified^(PX) so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.^{(PY) 36} For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled:^(PZ) Not one of His bones will be broken.^{(QA)[by] 37} Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the One they pierced.^(QB)[bz]

Jesus’ Burial

³⁸ After^(QC) this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body.^(QD) Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus^(QE) (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds^[ca] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ Then they took Jesus’ body^(QF) and wrapped it in linen cloths^(QG) with the aromatic spices, according to the burial^(QH) custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. ⁴² They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

The Empty Tomb

20 On^(QI) the first day of the week^(QJ) Mary Magdalene^(QK) came to the tomb^(QL) early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone^(QM) had been removed^[cb] from the tomb. ² So she ran to Simon Peter^(QN) and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,^(QO) and we don’t know where they have put Him!”

³ At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. ⁵ Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths^(QP) lying there, yet he did not go in. ⁶ Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ The wrapping^(QQ) that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths^(QR) but was folded up in a separate place by itself. ⁸ The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed. ⁹ For they still did not understand the Scripture^(QS) that He must rise^(QT) from the dead.^{(QU) 10} Then the disciples went home again.

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord

¹¹ But^(QV) Mary stood outside facing the tomb,^(QW) crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² She saw two angels^(QX) in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body^(QY) had been lying. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,”^(QZ) she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.^(RA)

¹⁵ “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.”

¹⁶ Jesus said, “Mary.”

Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”^[cc]—which means “Teacher.”^(RB)

¹⁷ “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended^(RC) to the Father.^(RD) But go to My brothers^(RE) and tell them that I am ascending to My Father^(RF) and your Father—to My God^(RG) and your God.”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”^(RH) And she told them what^[cd] He had said to her.

The Disciples Commissioned

¹⁹ In the evening of that first day of the week,^(RI) the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”^(RJ)

²⁰ Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side.^(RK) So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me,^(RL) I also send you.”^{(RM) 22} After saying this, He breathed on them^(RN) and said,^[ce] “Receive the Holy Spirit.^{(RO) 23} If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”^(RP)

Thomas Sees and Believes

²⁴ But one of the Twelve, Thomas^(RQ) (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails,^(RR) and put my hand into His side,^(RS) I will never believe!”^(RT)

²⁶ After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!”

²⁷ Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”^(RU)

²⁸ Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.^[cf] Those who believe without seeing^(RV) are blessed.”

The Purpose of This Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs^(RW) in the presence of His disciples that are not written^(RX) in this book.^{(RY) 31} But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah,^(RZ) the Son^(SA) of God,^[cg](SB) and by believing you may have life in His name.^(SC)

Jesus’ Third Appearance to the Disciples

21 After this, Jesus revealed^(SD) Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias.^[ch](SE) He revealed Himself in this way:

² Simon Peter,^(SF) Thomas^(SG) (called “Twin”), Nathanael^(SH) from Cana of Galilee,^(SI) Zebedee’s^(SJ) sons, and two others of His disciples were together.

³ “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them.

“We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.^(SK)

⁴ When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus.^(SL)

⁵ “Men,”^[ci] Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did,^[cj] and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. ⁷ Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”^(SM)

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him^[ck] (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea. ⁸ But since they were not far from land (about 100 yards^[cl](SN) away), the other disciples came in the boat,^(SO) dragging the net full of fish. ⁹ When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.

¹⁰ “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. ¹¹ So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.^(SP)

¹² “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” because they knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish.

¹⁴ This was now the third time^[cm](SQ) Jesus appeared^[cn](SR) to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Jesus’ Threefold Restoration of Peter

¹⁵ When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,^[co] do you love^[cp] Me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Feed^(SS) My lambs,”^(ST) He told him.

¹⁶ A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love^(SU) Me?”^(SV)

“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Shepherd^(SW) My sheep,”^(SX) He told him.

¹⁷ He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love^(SY) Me?”

Peter was grieved^(SZ) that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything!^(TA) You know that I love You.”

“Feed^(TB) My sheep,” Jesus said. ¹⁸ “I assure you:^(TC) When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ He said this to signify by what kind of death^(TD) he would glorify God.^[cq](TE) After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me!”^(TF)

Correcting a False Report

²⁰ So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved^(TG) following them. That disciple was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray You?”^{(TH) 21} When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord—what about him?”

²² “If I want him to remain until I come,”^(TI) Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.”

²³ So this report^[cr] spread to the brothers^[cs](TJ) that this disciple would not die.^(TK) Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

Epilogue

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books^[ct] that would be written.^(TL)

Prologue

1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach^{(TM) 2} until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.^{(TN) 3} After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.^(TO)

The Holy Spirit Promised

⁴ While He was together^[cu] with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise.^(TP) “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”^(TQ)

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority.^{(TR) 8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends^[cv] of the earth.”^(TS)

The Ascension

⁹ After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. ¹⁰ While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.^{(TT) 11} They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.”^(TU)

United in Prayer

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they arrived, they went to the room^(TV) upstairs where they were staying:

¹⁴ All these were continually united^(TX) in prayer,^[cw] along with the women, including Mary^[cx] the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.^(TY)

Matthias Chosen

¹⁵ During these days Peter stood up among the brothers^[cy]—the number of people who were together was about 120—and said: ¹⁶ “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.^{(TZ) 17} For he was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry.”^{(UA) 18} Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst and burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.^{(UB) 19} This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood). ²⁰ “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

²¹ “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— ²² beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of His resurrection.”^(UD)

²³ So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.^{(UE) 24} Then they prayed,^(UF) “You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen^{(UG) 25} to take the place^[db] in this apostolic service^(UH) that Judas left to go to his own place.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots^(UI) for them, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was numbered with the 11 apostles.

Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.^{(UJ) 2} Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind^(UK) came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.^{(UL) 3} And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ Then they were all filled^(UM) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.^(UN)

⁵ There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation^(UO) under heaven. ⁶ When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ And they were astounded and amazed, saying,^[dc] “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?^{(UP) 8} How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,^{(UQ) 10} Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,^{(UR) 11} Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.” ¹² They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?” ¹³ But some sneered and said, “They’re full of new wine!”^(US)

Peter’s Sermon

¹⁴ But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this^[dd] to you and pay attention to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.^{[de] 16} On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.^{(UY) 23} Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used^[dg] lawless people^[dh] to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.^{(UZ) 24} God raised Him up, ending the pains of death,^(VA) because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says of Him:

²⁹ “Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.^{(VD) 30} Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants^[dj][dk] on his throne.^{(VE) 31} Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah:

³² “God has resurrected^(VG) this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. ³³ Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God^(VH) and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit,^(VI) He has poured out^(VJ) what you both see and hear. ³⁴ For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:

³⁶ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”^(VL)

Forgiveness through the Messiah

³⁷ When they heard this, they came under deep conviction^[do] and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?”^(VM)

³⁸ “Repent,”^(VN) Peter said to them, “and be baptized,^(VO) each of you, in the name^(VP) of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off,^[dp](VQ) as many as the Lord our God will call.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt^[dq] generation!”^(VR)

A Generous and Growing Church

⁴¹ So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. ⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,^(VS) to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.^(VT)

⁴³ Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.^{(VU) 44} Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.^{(VV) 45} They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.^{[dr] 46} Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,^{(VW) 47} praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them^[ds] those who were being saved.^(VX)

Healing of a Lame Man

3 Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer^(VY) at three in the afternoon.^{[dt] 2} And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex.^{(VZ) 3} When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked for help. ⁴ Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ So he turned to them,^[du] expecting to get something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”^{(WA) 7} Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.^{(WB) 9} All the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.^(WC)

Preaching in Solomon’s Colonnade

¹¹ While he^[dv] was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, greatly amazed, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(WD) 12} When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers,^(WE) has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate,^(WF) when he had decided to release Him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One^(WG) and asked to have a murderer given to you.^{(WH) 15} You killed the source^[dw] of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this.^{(WI) 16} By faith in His name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.

¹⁷ “And now, brothers, I know that you did it in ignorance, just as your leaders also did.^(WJ)