Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders(A) there were looking for a way to kill him.(B) But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles(C) was near, Jesus’ brothers(D) said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.(E)

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time(F) is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me(G) because I testify that its works are evil.(H) You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time(I) has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus(J) and asking, “Where is he?”

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”(K) 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.(L)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.(M) 15 The Jews(N) there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning(O) without having been taught?”(P)

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.(Q) 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out(R) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,(S) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law?(T) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”(U)

20 “You are demon-possessed,”(V) the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,(W) and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision(X) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),(Y) you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”(Z)

Division Over Who Jesus Is

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?(AA) 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities(AB) really concluded that he is the Messiah?(AC) 27 But we know where this man is from;(AD) when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts,(AE) cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.(AF) I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.(AG) You do not know him, 29 but I know him(AH) because I am from him and he sent me.”(AI)

30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him,(AJ) because his hour had not yet come.(AK) 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him.(AL) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs(AM) than this man?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time,(AN) and then I am going to the one who sent me.(AO) 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(AP)

35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered(AQ) among the Greeks,(AR) and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”(AS)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival,(AT) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.(AU) 38 Whoever believes(AV) in me, as Scripture has said,(AW) rivers of living water(AX) will flow from within them.”[c](AY) 39 By this he meant the Spirit,(AZ) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.(BA) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.(BB)

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”(BC)

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?(BD) 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants(BE) and from Bethlehem,(BF) the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided(BG) because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.(BH)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”(BI) the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?”(BJ) the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?(BK) 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus,(BL) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”(BM)


[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

53 Then they all went home,

Footnotes

  1. John 7:1 Some manuscripts not have authority
  2. John 7:8 Some manuscripts not yet
  3. John 7:38 Or me. And let anyone drink 38 who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.”

耶穌的弟弟也不信他

這事以後,耶穌周遊加利利,不願在猶太往來,因為猶太人想要殺他。 猶太人的住棚節快到了, 耶穌的弟弟就對他說:“你應當離開這裡上猶太去,好讓你的門徒也可以看見你所行的事; 因為沒有人想引人注目,卻在暗處行事的。你既然行這些事,就應該向世人顯明自己。” 原來連他的弟弟也不信他。 耶穌就對他們說:“我的時候還沒有到,你們的時候卻常常是方便的。 世人不能恨你們,卻憎恨我,因為我指證他們的行為是邪惡的。 你們上去過節吧!我現在不上去過這個節,因為我的時機還沒有成熟。” 他說了這些話以後,仍然住在加利利。

住棚節時在殿裡教導人

10 然而,他的弟弟上去過節以後,他也上去過節,不是公開地去,卻是暗中地去。 11 過節的時候,猶太人尋找耶穌,說:“那人在哪裡呢?” 12 群眾因他紛紛議論,有的說:“他是好人。”有的說:“不,他是欺騙眾人的。” 13 但沒有人敢公開講論他,因為怕猶太人。

14 節期當中,耶穌上聖殿去教導人。 15 猶太人就希奇,說:“這個人沒有學過,怎會通曉經書呢?” 16 耶穌說:“我的教訓不是我自己的,而是出於那差我來的。 17 人若願意遵行 神的旨意,就會知道這教訓是出於 神,還是我憑著自己的意思說的。 18 那憑著自己的意思說的,是求自己的榮譽;但那尋求差他來者的榮耀的,才是真誠的人,在他裡面沒有不義。 19 摩西不是曾經把律法傳給你們嗎?你們竟然沒有一個人遵行律法。你們為甚麼想要殺我呢?” 20 群眾回答:“你是鬼附的,誰想要殺你呢?” 21 耶穌說:“我行了一件事,你們都以為希奇。 22 摩西曾經把割禮傳給你們(其實割禮不是從摩西開始的,而是從列祖開始的),因此,你們在安息日也給人行割禮。 23 如果人在安息日行割禮,為的是要遵守摩西的律法,那麼我在安息日使一個人全身健康,你們就向我生氣嗎? 24 不要按外貌判斷人,總要公公平平地判斷人。”

他是基督嗎?

25 當時,有些耶路撒冷人說:“這不是他們想要殺的人嗎? 26 你看,他還在公開地講話,竟然沒有人對他說甚麼,難道官長們真的認為這個人就是基督嗎? 27 可是我們知道這個人是從哪裡來的,只是基督來的時候,沒有人知道他是從哪裡來的!” 28 當時耶穌在殿裡教導人,大聲說:“你們以為認識我,也知道我從哪裡來,其實我不是憑著自己的意思來的,但那差我來的是真實的,你們卻不認識他。 29 然而我認識他,因為我從他那裡來,也是他差我來的。” 30 於是他們想逮捕他,只是沒有人下手,因為他的時候還沒有到。 31 群眾中有許多人信了他。他們說:“基督來的時候,他所行的神蹟,能比這人所行的更多嗎?”

法利賽人等想逮捕耶穌

32 法利賽人聽見群眾紛紛議論這些關於耶穌的事,祭司長和法利賽人就派差役去逮捕耶穌。 33 於是耶穌說:“我跟你們在一起的時候不多了,我要回到那差我來的那裡去。 34 你們要尋找我,卻找不著;我所在的地方,你們是不能去的。” 35 猶太人彼此說:“這個人要到哪裡去,使我們找不著他呢?難道他要到散居在希臘人中的猶太人那裡,去教導希臘人嗎? 36 他說‘你們要尋找我,卻找不著;我所在的地方,你們是不能去的’這話,是甚麼意思呢?”

信的人要接受聖靈

37 節期的最後一天,就是最隆重的那一天,耶穌站著高聲說:“人若渴了,可以到我這裡來喝! 38 信我的人,就像聖經所說的,從他的腹中要湧流出活水的江河來。” 39 他這話是指著信他的人要接受聖靈說的;那時聖靈還沒有降臨,因為耶穌還沒有得著榮耀。

群眾因耶穌起了紛爭

40 群眾中有人聽了這些話,就說:“這真是‘那位先知’!” 41 另有人說:“他是基督。”還有人說:“基督是從加利利出來的嗎? 42 聖經不是說基督是大衛的後裔,是從大衛本鄉伯利恆出來的嗎?” 43 群眾因為耶穌的緣故,就起了紛爭。 44 他們中間有人想逮捕耶穌,只是沒有人下手。

官長不信耶穌

45 差役回到祭司長和法利賽人那裡。他們就問差役:“你們為甚麼沒有把他帶來?” 46 差役回答:“從來沒有人像他這樣講話的!” 47 法利賽人說:“連你們也受了欺騙嗎? 48 官長或法利賽人中間有誰是信他的呢? 49 至於這群不明白律法的人,他們是可咒詛的。” 50 他們當中有一個人,就是以前來見耶穌的尼哥德慕,對他們說: 51 “如果不先聽取他本人的口供,查明他所作的事,我們的律法怎能把他定罪呢?” 52 他們回答:“你也是從加利利出來的嗎?你去考查一下,就知道先知是不會從加利利興起的。”

53 於是各人都回家去了。(後期抄本才加上7:53~8:11)

The Unbelief of Jesus’s Brothers

After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee,(A) since he did not want to travel in Judea(B) because the Jews(C) were trying to kill him.(D) The Jewish Festival of Shelters[a](E) was near. So his brothers(F) said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples can see your works(G) that you are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” (For not even his brothers believed in him.)

Jesus told them, “My time(H) has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand. The world cannot hate(I) you, but it does hate me because I testify about it—that its works are evil. Go up to the festival yourselves. I’m not going up to this festival,[b] because my time has not yet fully come.” After he had said these things, he stayed in Galilee.

Jesus at the Festival of Shelters

10 After his brothers had gone up to the festival, then he also went up, not openly but secretly. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was a lot of murmuring about him among the crowds. Some were saying, “He’s a good(J) man.” Others were saying, “No, on the contrary, he’s deceiving(K) the people.” 13 Still, nobody was talking publicly about him for fear of the Jews.

14 When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple(L) and began to teach. 15 Then the Jews were amazed and said, “How is this man so learned,(M) since he hasn’t been trained?”

16 Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t mine but is from the one who sent me.(N) 17 If anyone wants to do his will,(O) he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18 The one who speaks on his own seeks his own glory;(P) but he who seeks the glory(Q) of the one who sent him is true,(R) and there is no unrighteousness in him.(S) 19 Didn’t Moses(T) give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law.(U) Why are you trying to kill me?”

20 “You have a demon!” the crowd responded. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21 “I performed one work,(V) and you are all amazed,” Jesus answered. 22 “This is why Moses has given you circumcision(W) —not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers(X) —and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.(Y) 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath(Z) so that the law of Moses(AA) won’t be broken, are you angry at me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging(AB) according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”

The Identity of the Messiah

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem(AC) were saying, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Yet, look, he’s speaking publicly and they’re saying nothing to him. Can it be true that the authorities(AD) know he is the Messiah?(AE) 27 But we know where this man is from.(AF) When the Messiah comes, nobody will know where he is from.”

28 As he was teaching in the temple,(AG) Jesus cried out, “You know me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own, but the one who sent me(AH) is true. You don’t know him;(AI) 29 I know him because I am from him, and he sent me.”(AJ)

30 Then they tried to seize him. Yet no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. 31 However, many from the crowd believed in him and said, “When the Messiah comes, he won’t perform more signs than this man has done,(AK) will he?” 32 The Pharisees(AL) heard the crowd murmuring these things about him, and so the chief priests(AM) and the Pharisees sent servants[c] to arrest him.

33 Then Jesus said, “I am only with you for a short time.(AN) Then I’m going to the one who sent me.(AO) 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(AP)

35 Then the Jews(AQ) said to one another, “Where does he intend to go that we won’t find him? He doesn’t intend to go to the Jewish people dispersed[d](AR) among the Greeks(AS) and teach the Greeks, does he? 36 What is this remark he made: ‘You will look for me, and you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come’(AT)?”

The Promise of the Spirit

37 On the last and most important day of the festival,(AU) Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me[e](AV) and drink.(AW) 38 The one who believes in me,(AX) as the Scripture(AY) has said, will have streams of living water(AZ) flow(BA) from deep within him.” 39 He said this about the Spirit.(BB) Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit,(BC) for the Spirit[f] had not yet been given[g] because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

The People Are Divided over Jesus

40 When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, “This truly is the Prophet.”(BD) 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he? 42 Doesn’t the Scripture(BE) say that the Messiah comes from David’s(BF) offspring[h] and from the town of Bethlehem,(BG) where David lived?” 43 So the crowd was divided(BH) because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to seize him,(BI) but no one laid hands on him.

Debate over Jesus’s Claims

45 Then the servants(BJ) came to the chief priests(BK) and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”

46 The servants answered, “No man ever spoke like this!” [i](BL)

47 Then the Pharisees responded to them, “Are you fooled(BM) too? 48 Have any of the rulers(BN) or Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed.”

50 Nicodemus(BO)—the one who came to him previously and who was one of them—said to them, 51 “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?” (BP)

52 “You aren’t from Galilee(BQ) too, are you?” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”(BR)

[The earliest mss do not include 7:53–8:11.]

[53 Then each one went to his house.[j]

Footnotes

  1. 7:2 Or Tabernacles, or Booths
  2. 7:8 Other mss add yet
  3. 7:32 Or temple police, or officers, also in vv. 45,46
  4. 7:35 Gk diaspora; Jewish people scattered throughout Gentile lands
  5. 7:37 Other mss omit to me
  6. 7:39 Other mss read Holy Spirit
  7. 7:39 Lit the Spirit was not yet
  8. 7:42 Lit seed
  9. 7:46 Other mss read like this man
  10. 7:53–8:11 Other mss include all or some of the passage after Jn 7:36,44,52; 21:25; or Lk 21:38.