The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath

After this there was a (A)feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by (B)the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic[a] called Bethesda,[b] which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and (C)paralyzed.[c] One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, (D)“Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” (E)And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

(F)Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews[d] said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and (G)it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for (H)Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! (I)Sin no more, (J)that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews (K)were persecuting Jesus, (L)because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Jesus Is Equal with God

18 This was why the Jews (M)were seeking all the more to kill him, (N)because not only was he (O)breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God (P)his own Father, (Q)making himself equal with God.

The Authority of the Son

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (R)the Son (S)can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[e] does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For (T)the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And (U)greater works than these will he show him, so that (V)you may marvel. 21 For as the Father (W)raises the dead and (X)gives them life, so (Y)also the Son gives life (Z)to whom he will. 22 (AA)For the Father judges no one, but (AB)has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they (AC)honor the Father. (AD)Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AE)whoever hears my word and (AF)believes him who sent me has eternal life. He (AG)does not come into judgment, but (AH)has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, (AI)an hour is coming, and is now here, when (AJ)the dead will hear (AK)the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear (AL)will live. 26 (AM)For as the Father has life in himself, (AN)so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he (AO)has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for (AP)an hour is coming when (AQ)all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, (AR)those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Witnesses to Jesus

30 (AS)“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and (AT)my judgment is just, because (AU)I seek not my own will (AV)but the will of him who sent me. 31 (AW)If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is (AX)another who bears witness about me, and (AY)I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 (AZ)You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that (BA)the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and (BB)shining lamp, and (BC)you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But (BD)the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For (BE)the works that the Father has given me (BF)to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, (BG)bear witness about me that (BH)the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me (BI)has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, (BJ)his form you have never seen, 38 and (BK)you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 (BL)You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and (BM)it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet (BN)you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 (BO)I do not receive glory from people. 42 But (BP)I know that you do not have (BQ)the love of God within you. 43 I have come (BR)in my Father's name, and (BS)you do not receive me. (BT)If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and (BU)do not seek the glory that comes from (BV)the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, (BW)on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for (BX)he wrote of me. 47 But (BY)if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Footnotes

  1. John 5:2 Or Hebrew
  2. John 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethsaida
  3. John 5:3 Some manuscripts insert, wholly or in part, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had
  4. John 5:10 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed Jesus in that time; also verses 15, 16, 18
  5. John 5:19 Greek he

2 One lying at the pool, 5 is healed of Christ on the Sabbath. 10 The Jews that rashly find fault with that his deed, 17 he convinceth with the authority of his Father,  19, 20 He proveth his divine power by many reasons, 45 and with Moses’ testimony.

After (A)that, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went to Jerusalem.

[a]And there is at Jerusalem by the place of the sheep, a [b]pool called in Hebrew [c]Bethesda, having five porches:

In the which lay a great multitude of sick folk, of blind, halt, and withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

For an Angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first, after the stirring of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

And a certain man was there, which had been diseased eight and thirty years.

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he now long time had been diseased, he said unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Jesus said unto him, Rise: take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and the same day was the Sabbath.

10 [d]The Jews therefore said to him that was made whole, It is the Sabbath day: (B)it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11 He answered them, He that made me whole he said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed, knew not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away from the multitude that was in that place.

14 And after that, Jesus found him in the Temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

15 ¶ The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus that had made him whole.

16 And therefore the Jews did persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.

17 [e]But Jesus answered them, My father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 (C)Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him: not only because he had broken the Sabbath: but said also that God was [f]his Father, and made himself equal with God.

19 Then answered Jesus, and said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, The Son can do nothing [g]of himself, save that he [h]seeth the Father do: for whatsoever things he doeth, the same things doeth the Son [i]in like manner.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things, whatsoever he himself doeth, and he will show him greater works than these, that ye should marvel.

21 [j]For likewise as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father [k]judgeth [l]no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son,

23 Because that all men should honor the Son, as they honor the Father: he that honoreth not the Son, the same honoreth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 [m]Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but hath passed from death to life.

25 [n]Verily, verily I say unto you, the hour shall come, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear it shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself, so likewise hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.

27 And hath given him [o]power also to execute judgment, in that he is the [p]Son of man.

28 [q]Marvel not at this: for the hour shall come, in the which all that are in the graves, shall hear his voice.

29 [r]And they shall come [s]forth, (D)that have done good, unto the [t]resurrection of life: but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of condemnation.

30 [u]I can [v]do nothing of mine own self: [w]as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just, because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me.

31 If I (E)should bear witness of myself, my witness were not [x]true.

32 (F)There is another that beareth witness of me, and I know that the witness, which he beareth of me, is true.

33 (G)[y]Ye sent unto John, and he bore witness unto the truth.

34 But I receive not the record of man: nevertheless these things I say, that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining candle: and ye would for [z]a season have rejoiced in his light.

36 But I have greater witness than the witness of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father sent me.

37 And the (H)Father himself, which hath sent me, beareth witness of me. Ye have not heard his voice at any time, (I)neither have ye seen his shape.

38 And his word have you not abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believed not.

39 (J)Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think to have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.

40 But ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

41 I receive not the praise of men.

42 But I know you, that ye have not the [aa]love of God in you.

43 I am come in my Father’s Name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him will ye receive.

44 How can ye believe, which receive (K)honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh of God alone?

45 [ab]Do not think that I will accuse you to my Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he (L)wrote of me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words.

Footnotes

  1. John 5:2 There is no disease so old, which Christ cannot heal.
  2. John 5:2 Whereof cattle drank, and used to be plunged in; whereof there could not be but great store at Jerusalem.
  3. John 5:2 That is to say, the house of pouring out, because great store of water was poured out into that place.
  4. John 5:10 True religion is no more cruelly assaulted by any means, than by the pretence of religion itself.
  5. John 5:17 The work of God was never the breach of the Sabbath: but the works of Christ are the works of the Father, both because they are one God, and also because the Father doth not work but in the Son.
  6. John 5:18 That is, his only and no man’s else, which they gather by that, that he saith, (And I work) applying this word (work) to himself, which is proper to God, and therefore maketh himself equal to God.
  7. John 5:19 Not only without his Father’s authority, but also without his mighty working and power.
  8. John 5:19 This must be understood of Christ’s person, which consisteth of two natures, and not simply of his Godhead: so then he saith that his Father moveth and governeth him in all things, but yet notwithstanding, when he saith he worketh with his Father, he voucheth his Godhead.
  9. John 5:19 In like sort, jointly and together. Not for that the Father doeth some things, and then the son worketh after him, and doeth the like, but because the might and power of the Father and the Son do work equally and jointly together.
  10. John 5:21 The Father maketh no man partaker of everlasting life, but in Christ, in whom only also he is truly worshipped.
  11. John 5:22 This word (judgeth) is taken by the figure Synecdoche, for all government.
  12. John 5:22 These words are not so to be taken, as though they simply denied that God governeth the world, but as the Jews imagined it, which separate the Father from the Son, whereas indeed, the Father doth not govern the world but only in the person of his Son, being made manifest in the flesh: so saith he afterward, verse 30, that he came not to do his own will: that his doctrine is not his own, John 7:16, that the blind man and his parents sinned not, etc., John 9:3.
  13. John 5:24 The Father is not worshipped but by his Son’s word apprehended by faith, which is the only way that leadeth to eternal life.
  14. John 5:25 We are all dead in sin and cannot be quickened by any other means, than by the word of Christ apprehended by faith.
  15. John 5:27 That is, high and sovereign power to rule and govern all things, insomuch that he hath power of life and death.
  16. John 5:27 That is, he shall not only judge the world as he is God, but also as he is man, he received this of his Father to be judge of the world.
  17. John 5:28 All shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ at length to be judged.
  18. John 5:29 Faith and infidelity shall be judged by their fruits.
  19. John 5:29 Of their graves.
  20. John 5:29 To that resurrection which had life everlasting following it: against which is set the resurrection of condemnation: that is, which condemnation followeth.
  21. John 5:30 The father is the author and approver of all things which Christ doeth.
  22. John 5:30 See verse 22.
  23. John 5:30 As my father directeth me, who dwelleth in me.
  24. John 5:31 Faithful, that is, worthy to be credited, see John 8:14.
  25. John 5:33 Christ is declared to be the only Savior by John’s voice, and infinite miracles, and by the testimonies of all the Prophets. But the world notwithstanding being addicted to false prophets, and desirous to seem religious, seeth none of all these things.
  26. John 5:35 A little while.
  27. John 5:42 Love toward God.
  28. John 5:45 This denial doth not put away that which is here said, but correcteth it, as if Christ said, the Jews shall have no sorer an accuser than Moses.

The Healing at the Pool

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate(A) a pool, which in Aramaic(B) is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”(C) At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,(D) 10 and so the Jewish leaders(E) said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”(F)

11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’

12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning(G) or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders(H) that it was Jesus who had made him well.

The Authority of the Son

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father(I) is always at his work(J) to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;(K) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.(L)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;(M) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son(N) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,(O) so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,(P) even so the Son gives life(Q) to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,(R) 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.(S)

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me(T) has eternal life(U) and will not be judged(V) but has crossed over from death to life.(W) 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come(X) when the dead will hear(Y) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life(Z) in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge(AA) because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming(AB) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.(AC) 30 By myself I can do nothing;(AD) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,(AE) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(AF)

Testimonies About Jesus

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.(AG) 32 There is another who testifies in my favor,(AH) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified(AI) to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony;(AJ) but I mention it that you may be saved.(AK) 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light,(AL) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.(AM) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing(AN)—testify that the Father has sent me.(AO) 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.(AP) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(AQ) 38 nor does his word dwell in you,(AR) for you do not believe(AS) the one he sent.(AT) 39 You study[c] the Scriptures(AU) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.(AV) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,(AW) 40 yet you refuse to come to me(AX) to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(AY) 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[d]?(AZ)

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(BA) on whom your hopes are set.(BB) 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.(BC) 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(BD)

Footnotes

  1. John 5:2 Some manuscripts Bethzatha; other manuscripts Bethsaida
  2. John 5:4 Some manuscripts include here, wholly or in part, paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.
  3. John 5:39 Or 39 Study
  4. John 5:44 Some early manuscripts the Only One