Jesus Announces the Good News^(A)

¹⁴ After John^(B) was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,^(C) proclaiming the good news of God.^{(D) 15} “The time has come,”^(E) he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe^(F) the good news!”^(G)

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]”^(A)

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.^{(B) 6} Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit.^{(C) 7} You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^[d](D)

⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate^(A) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.^{(B) 8} When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin,^(C) because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness,^(D) because I am going to the Father,^(E) where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world^(F) now stands condemned.

¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth,^(A) comes, he will guide you into all the truth.^(B) He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

⁸ God, who knows the heart,^(A) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,^(B) just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them,^(C) for he purified their hearts by faith.^(D)

²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(A) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(B) and body be kept blameless^(C) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(D) 24} The one who calls^(E) you is faithful,^(F) and he will do it.^(G)