Bible in 90 Days
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 And they watched him[a] closely and[b] sent spies who pretended they were upright, in order that they could catch him in a statement, so that they could hand him over to the authority and the jurisdiction of the governor. 21 And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not show partiality,[c] but teach the way of God in truth. 22 Is it permitted for us to pay taxes[d] to Caesar or not?” 23 But seeing through their craftiness, he said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius! Whose image and inscription does it have?” And they answered and[e] said,[f] “Caesar’s.” 25 So he said to them, “Well then, give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!” 26 And they were not able to catch him[g][h] in a statement in the sight of the people, and astonished at his answer, they became silent.
A Question About Marriage and the Resurrection
27 Now some of the Sadducees—who deny that there is a resurrection[i]—came up and[j] asked him, 28 saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us if someone’s brother dies having a wife, and this man is childless, that his brother should take the wife and father[k] descendants for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers, and the first took a wife and[l] died childless, 30 and the second, 31 and the third took her, and likewise also the seven did not leave children and died. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 Therefore in the resurrection, the woman—whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they are not even able to die any longer, because they are like the angels and are sons of God, because they[m] are sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed in the passage about[n] the bush, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him!” 39 And some of the scribes answered and[o] said, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him anything.
David’s Son and Lord
41 But he said to them, “In what sense do they say that the Christ is David’s son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
43 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’[p]
44 David therefore calls him ‘Lord,’ and how is he his son?”
Warning to Beware of the Scribes
45 And while[q] all the people were listening, he said to the disciples,[r] 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like walking around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets, 47 who devour the houses of widows and pray lengthy prayers for the sake of appearance. These will receive more severe condemnation!”
A Poor Widow’s Offering
21 And he looked up and[s] saw the rich putting their gifts into the contribution box, 2 and he saw a certain poor widow putting in there two small copper coins.[t] 3 And he said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow put in more than all of them. 4 For these all put gifts[u] into the offering out of their abundance, but this woman out of her poverty put in all the means of subsistence that she had.”
The Destruction of the Temple Predicted
5 And while[v] some were speaking about the temple, that it was adorned with precious stones and votive offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see—days will come in which not one stone will be left on another stone that will not be thrown down!”
Signs of the End of the Age
7 And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, Watch out that you are not deceived! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them! 9 And when you hear about wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end will not be at once.” 10 Then he said to them, “nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in various places. There will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.
Persecution of Disciples Predicted
12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you,[w] handing you[x] over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before[y] kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will turn out to you for a time of witness. 14 Therefore make up your minds[z] not to prepare in advance to speak in your own defense, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom that all your opponents will not be able to resist or contradict. 16 And you will be handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put to death some of you. 17 And you will be hated by all because of my name. 18 Even a hair of your head will never perish! 19 By your patient endurance you will gain your lives.
The Desolation of Jerusalem
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside it[aa] must depart, and those in the fields must not enter into it, 22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all the things that are written can be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant[ab] and to those who are nursing their babies[ac] in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people, 24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations,[ad] and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Arrival of the Son of Man
25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity from the noise of the sea and its surging, 26 people fainting from fear and expectation of what is coming on the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.[ae] 27 And then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud[af] with power and great glory. 28 But when[ag] these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!”
The Parable of the Fig Tree
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they put out foliage,[ah] now you see for yourselves and[ai] know that by this time the summer is near. 31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know[aj] that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you that this generation will never pass away until all things take place! 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Be Alert
34 “But take care for yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of daily life, and that day come upon you suddenly 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who reside on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 So throughout the days he was teaching in the temple courts,[ak] and throughout the nights he was going out and[al] spending the night on the hill that is called the Mount of Olives. 38 And all the people were getting up very early in the morning to come[am] to him in the temple courts[an] to listen to him.
The Chief Priests and Scribes Plot to Kill Jesus
22 Now the feast of Unleavened Bread (which is called Passover) was drawing near. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they could destroy him, because they were afraid of the people.
Judas Arranges to Betray Jesus
3 And Satan entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went away and[ao] discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he could betray him to them. 5 And they were delighted, and came to an agreement with him to give him[ap] money. 6 And he agreed, and began looking[aq] for a favorable opportunity to betray him to them apart from the crowd.
Jesus’ Final Passover with the Disciples
7 And the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which it was necessary for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and[ar] prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.[as] 9 So they said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”[at] 10 And he said to them, “Behold, when[au] you have entered into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. 11 And you will say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 And he will show you a large furnished[av] upstairs room. Make preparations there.” 13 So they went and[aw] found everything[ax] just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
The Lord’s Supper
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired[ay] to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you that I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took in hand a cup, and[az] after[ba] giving thanks he said, “Take this and share it[bb] among yourselves. 18 For I tell you,[bc] from now on I will not drink of the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, and[bd] after[be] giving thanks, he broke it[bf] and gave it[bg] to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And in the same way the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.
21 “But behold, the hand of the one who is betraying me is with me on the table! 22 For the Son of Man is going according to what has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to debate with one another who then of them it could be who was going to do this.
A Dispute About Who Is Greatest
24 And a dispute also occurred among them as to which of them was recognized as being greatest. 25 So he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles[bh] lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like this! But the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am in your midst as the one who serves.
28 “And you are the ones who have remained[bi] with me in my trials, 29 and I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, when[bj] once you have turned back,[bk] strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” 34 And he said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me!”
The Two Swords
35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out without a money bag and a traveler’s bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?”[bl] And they said, “Nothing.” 36 And he said to them, “But now the one who has a money bag must take it,[bm] and likewise a traveler’s bag. And the one who does not have a sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this that is written must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was counted with the criminals.’[bn] For indeed, what is written[bo] about me is being fulfilled.”[bp] 38 So they said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords!” And he said to them, “It is adequate.”
The Prayer in Gethsemane
39 And he went away and[bq] proceeded, according to his[br] custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him. 40 And when[bs] he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down[bt] and[bu] began to pray,[bv] 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” [[43 And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 And being in anguish, he began praying[bw] more fervently and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground.]][bx] 45 And when he[by] got up from the prayer and[bz] came to the disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and[ca] pray that you will not enter into temptation!”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While[cb] he was still speaking, behold, there came a crowd, and the one named Judas, one of the twelve, leading them. And he approached Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when[cc] those around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 And a certain one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and[cd] said, “Stop! No more of this!”[ce] And he touched his[cf] ear and[cg] healed him. 52 And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come out against him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber? 53 Every day when[ch] I was with you in the temple courts,[ci] you did not stretch out your[cj] hands against me! But this is your hour and the domain of darkness!”
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
54 And they arrested him and[ck] led him[cl] away and brought him[cm] into the house of the high priest. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they[cn] had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 And a certain female slave, seeing him sitting in the light and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him!” 57 But he denied it,[co] saying, “Woman, I do not know him!” 58 And after a short time another person saw him and[cp] said, “You also are one of them!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 And after[cq] about one hour had passed, someone else was insisting, saying, “In truth this man also was with him, because he is also a Galilean!” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” And immediately, while[cr] he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned around and[cs] looked intently at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord,[ct] how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and[cu] wept bitterly.
63 And the men who were guarding him began to mock[cv] him while[cw] they beat him,[cx] 64 and after[cy] blindfolding him they repeatedly asked[cz] him,[da] saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” 65 And they were saying many other things against him, reviling him.[db]
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
66 And when day came, the council of elders of the people gathered, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away to their Sanhedrin,[dc] 67 saying, “If you are the Christ, tell us!” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will never believe, 68 and if I ask you,[dd] you will never answer! 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you then the Son of God?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 And they said, “Why do we have need of further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it[de] from his mouth!”
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
23 And the whole assembly of them rose up and[df] brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us[dg] to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying he himself is Christ, a king!” 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And he answered him and[dh] said, “You say so.” 4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5 But they insisted, saying, “He incites the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea and beginning from Galilee as far as here.”
Jesus Brought Before Herod
6 Now when[di] Pilate heard this,[dj] he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he[dk] found out that he was from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days. 8 And when[dl] Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him. 9 So he questioned him at considerable length,[dm] but he answered nothing to him. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers also treated him with contempt, and after[dn] mocking him[do] and[dp] dressing him[dq] in glistening clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And both Herod and Pilate became friends with one another on that same day, for they had previously been enemies of one another.[dr]
Pilate Releases Barabbas
13 So Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people 14 and[ds] said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people, and behold, when I[dt] examined him[du] before you, I found nothing in this man as basis for the accusation which you are making[dv] against him. 15 But neither did Herod, because he sent him back to us. And behold, nothing deserving death has been done[dw] by him. 16 Therefore I will punish him and[dx] release him.”[dy] [dz] 18 But they all cried out in unison, saying, “Take this man away, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (who had been thrown in prison because of a certain insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder). 20 And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them[ea][eb] again, 21 but they kept crying out, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” 22 So he said to them a third time, “Why? What wrong has this man done? I found no basis for an accusation deserving death[ec] in him. Therefore I will punish him and[ed] release him.”[ee] 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he be crucified. And their cries prevailed. 24 And Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 And he released the one who had been thrown into prison because of insurrection and murder, whom they were asking for, but Jesus he handed over to their will.
Jesus Is Crucified
26 And as they led him away, they seized Simon, a certain man of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and[ef] placed the cross on him, to carry it[eg] behind Jesus. 27 And a great crowd of the people were following him, and of women who were mourning and lamenting him. 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children! 29 For behold, days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that did not give birth, and the breasts that did not nurse!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green,[eh] what will happen when it is dry?”[ei]
32 And two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” there they crucified him, and the criminals, the one on his right and the other on his left. 34 [[But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]][ej] And they cast lots to divide his clothes. 35 And the people stood there watching, but the rulers also ridiculed him,[ek] saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if this man is the Christ[el] of God, the Chosen One!” 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming up and[em] offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 And there was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”
39 And one of the criminals who were hanged there reviled him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself—and us!” 40 But the other answered and[en] rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, because you are undergoing the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve[eo] for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong!” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus Dies on the Cross
44 And by this time it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour 45 because[ep] the light of the sun failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn apart down the middle. 46 And Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit!”[eq] And after he[er] said this, he expired.
47 Now when[es] the centurion saw what had happened, he began to praise[et] God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous!” 48 And all the crowds that had come together for this spectacle, when they[eu] saw the things that had happened, returned home[ev] beating their[ew] breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him from Galilee who saw these things, stood at a distance.
Jesus Is Buried
50 And behold, a man named[ex] Joseph, who was a member of the council,[ey] a good[ez] and righteous man 51 (this man was not consenting to their plan and deed), from Arimathea, a Judean town,[fa] who was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52 This man approached Pilate and[fb] asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it[fc] down and[fd] wrapped it in a linen cloth and placed him in a tomb cut into the rock where no one had ever been placed. 54 And it was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. 55 And the women who had been accompanying him from Galilee followed and[fe] saw the tomb and how his body was placed. 56 And they returned and[ff] prepared fragrant spices and perfumes, and on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Jesus Is Raised
24 Now on the first day of the week, at very early dawn, they came back to the tomb bringing the fragrant spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they[fg] went in, they did not find the body.[fh] 4 And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men in gleaming clothing stood near them. 5 And as[fi] they were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he spoke to you while he[fj] was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of men who are sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise?” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and when they[fk] returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the others with them were telling these things to the apostles. 11 And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they refused to believe them. 12 But Peter got up and[fl] ran to the tomb, and bending over to look, he saw only the strips of linen cloth, and he went away to his home[fm] wondering what had happened.
Jesus Encountered on the Road to Emmaus
13 And behold, on that same day, two of them were traveling to a village named[fn] Emmaus that was sixty stadia[fo] distant from Jerusalem, 14 and they were conversing with one another about all these things that had happened. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing, and discussing, Jesus himself also approached and[fp] began to go along with[fq] them, 16 but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are these matters that you are discussing with one another as you[fr] are walking along?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 And one of them, named[fs] Cleopas, answered and[ft] said to him, “Are you the only one living near Jerusalem and not knowing the things that have happened in it in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, a man who was a prophet, powerful in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to a sentence of death, and crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. But in addition to all these things, this is the third day since[fu] these things took place. 22 But also some women from among us astonished us, who were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they[fv] did not find his body, they came back saying they had seen even a vision of angels, who said that he was alive! 24 And some of those with us went out to the tomb and found it[fw] like this, just as the women had also said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish and slow in heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures. 28 And they drew near to the village where they were going, and he acted as though he was going farther. 29 And they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening, and by this time the day is far spent.” And he went in to stay with them. 30 And it happened that when he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and[fx] gave thanks, and after[fy] breaking it,[fz] he gave it[ga] to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he became invisible to them. 32 And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that same hour and[gb] returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those with them assembled, 34 saying, “The Lord has really been raised, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they began describing[gc] what happened[gd] on the road, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36 And while[ge] they were saying these things, he himself stood there among them.[gf] 37 But they were startled and became terrified, and[gg] thought they had seen a ghost. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you frightened? And for what reason do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that I am I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”[gh] 40 And when he[gi] had said this, he showed them his[gj] hands and his[gk] feet. 41 And while[gl] they were still disbelieving because of joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat[gm] here?” 42 So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it[gn] and[go] ate it[gp] in front of them.
Jesus Commissions His Disciples
44 And he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I[gq] was still with you, that everything that is written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and the forgiveness[gr] of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,[gs] beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending out[gt] what was promised by my Father upon you, but you stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension
50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 And it happened that while he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and[gu] returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually[gv] in the temple courts[gw] praising God.
The Prologue to John’s Gospel
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 This one was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and apart from him not one thing came into being that[gx] has come into being. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of humanity.[gy] 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome[gz] it.
6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was[ha] John. 7 This one came for a witness, in order that he could testify about the light, so that all would believe through him. 8 That one was not the light, but came[hb] in order that he could testify about the light. 9 The true light, who gives light to every person, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, and the world did not recognize[hc] him. 11 He came to his own things, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But as many as received him—to those who believe in his name—he gave to them authority to become children of God, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a husband, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and took up residence among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him and cried out, saying, “This one was he about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me is ahead of me, because he existed before me.’” 16 For from his fullness we have all received, and grace after grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the one and only, God, the one who is in the bosom of the Father—that one has made him[hd] known.
John the Baptist Testifies to Jesus
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent[he] priests and Levites from Jerusalem so that they could ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed—and he did not deny, and confessed—“I am not the Christ!” 21 And they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?”[hf] And he answered, “No!” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said,
“I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
“Make straight the way of the Lord,”’[hg]
just as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 (And they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 And they asked him and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water. In your midst stands one whom you do not know— 27 the one who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy to untie[hh] the strap of his sandal!” 28 These things took place in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 On the next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This one is the one about whom I said, ‘After me is coming a man who is ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ 31 And I did not know him, but in order that he could be revealed to Israel, because of this I came baptizing with water.”
32 And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and remaining upon him. 33 And I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water, that one said to me, ‘The one upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him—this one is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testify that this one is the Chosen One[hi] of God.
Two of John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
35 On the next day again John was standing there,[hj] and two of his disciples, 36 and looking at Jesus as he[hk] was walking by, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” 37 And the two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus, turning around and seeing them following him,[hl] said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means when[hm] translated “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see!” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day (it was about the tenth hour).
Andrew Declares Jesus to be the Messiah
40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. 41 This one first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated “Christ”). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Looking at him, Jesus said, “You are Simon the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is interpreted “Peter”).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 On the next day he wanted to depart for Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” 44 (Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.) 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets wrote about—Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth!” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see!”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Look! A true Israelite[hn] in whom is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “From where do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you[ho] were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly I say to all of you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
The Wedding at Cana: Water Turned into Wine
2 And on the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 And both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when the[hp] wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine!” 4 And Jesus said to her, “What does your concern have to do with me,[hq] woman? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it!”[hr]
6 Now six stone water jars were set there, in accordance with the ceremonial cleansing of the Jews, each holding two or three measures.[hs] 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the water jars with water.” And they filled them to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some[ht] out and take it[hu] to the head steward. So they took it.[hv] 9 Now when the head steward tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it was from—but the servants who had drawn the water knew—the head steward summoned the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone[hw] serves the good wine first, and whenever they are drunk, the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This beginning of signs Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee, and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
Jesus’ First Journey to Jerusalem
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, and his mother and brothers[hx] and his disciples, and they stayed there a few[hy] days. 13 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
The Cleansing of the Temple
14 And he found in the temple courts[hz] those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated. 15 And he made a whip of cords and[ia] drove them[ib] all out of the temple courts,[ic] both the sheep and the oxen, and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their[id] tables. 16 And to the ones selling the doves he said, “Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace!”[ie] 17 His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[if]
18 So the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign do you show to us, because you are doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up!” 20 Then the Jews said, “This temple has been under construction[ig] forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus at the Passover
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name because they[ih] saw his signs which he was doing. 24 But Jesus himself did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people,[ii] 25 and because he did not need[ij] anyone to testify[ik] about man, for he himself knew what was in man.[il]
A Meeting with Nicodemus
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees whose name was[im] Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are[in] a teacher who has come from God, for no one is able to perform these signs that you are performing unless God were with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born from above,[io] he is not able to see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is an old man? He is not able to enter into his mother’s womb for the second time and be born, can he?”[ip]
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born of water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘It is necessary for you to be born from above.’[iq] 8 The wind blows wherever it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly I say to you, we speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony! 12 If I tell you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,[ir] thus it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”[is]
God’s Love for the World
16 For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge[it] the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him. 18 The one who believes in him is not judged,[iu] but the one who does not believe has already been judged,[iv] because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, in order that his deeds may be revealed, that they are done in God.
Additional Testimony by John the Baptist About Jesus
22 After these things Jesus and his disciples came into Judean territory, and there he spent time with them and was baptizing. 23 Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and they were coming and were being baptized. 24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25 So a dispute occurred on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew[iw] concerning purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, about whom you testified—look, this one is baptizing, and all are coming to him!”
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive not one thing unless it is granted to him from heaven! 28 You yourselves testify about me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I am sent before that one.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly[ix] because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. 30 It is necessary for that one to increase, but for me to decrease.”
31 The one who comes from above is over all. The one who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks from the earth; the one who comes from heaven is over all. 32 What he has seen and heard, this he testifies, and no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who accepts his testimony has attested that God is true. 34 For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life—but the wrath of God remains on him.[iy]
The Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well
4 Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And it was necessary for him to go through Samaria.
5 Now he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 And Jacob’s well was there, so Jesus, because he had become tired from the journey, simply sat down at the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me water[iz] to drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the town so that they could buy food.) 9 So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How do you, being a Jew, ask from me water[ja] to drink, since I[jb] am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me water[jc] to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket and the well is deep! From where then do you get this living water? 12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are you,[jd] who gave us the well and drank from it himself, and his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks of this water which I will give to him will never be thirsty for eternity, but the water which I will give to him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or come here to draw water!”[je] 16 He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have said rightly, ‘I do not have a husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you have now is not your husband; this you have said truthfully!”
19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you people[jf] say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, that an hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming—and now is here[jg]—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for indeed the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and the ones who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ); “whenever that one comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.[jh]
The Disciples and the Harvest
27 And at this point[ji] his disciples came, and they were astonished that he was speaking with a woman. However, no one said, “What do you seek?” or “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into the town and said to the people,[jj] 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Perhaps this one is the Christ?” 30 They went out from the town and were coming to him.
31 In the meanwhile the disciples were asking him, saying, “Rabbi, eat something!”[jk] 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples began to say[jl] to one another, “No one brought him anything[jm] to eat, did they?”[jn] 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is that I do the will of the one who sent me and complete his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months and the harvest comes’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.[jo] 36 The one who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, in order that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. 37 For in this instance[jp] the saying is true, ‘It is one who sows and another who reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have worked, and you have entered into their work.”
The Samaritans and the Savior of the World
39 Now from that town many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything that I have done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking[jq] him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word, 42 And they were saying to the woman, “No longer because of what you said[jr] do we believe, for we ourselves have heard, and we know that this one is truly the Savior of the world!”
Return to Galilee
43 And after the two days he departed from there into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own homeland. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, because they[js] had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem at the feast (for they themselves had also come to the feast).
A Royal Official’s Son Is Healed
46 Now he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And there was at Capernaum a certain royal official whose son was sick. 47 This man, when he[jt] heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, went to him and asked that he come down and heal his son, for he was about to die. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people[ju] see signs and wonders, you will never believe!” 49 The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go, your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he departed.
51 Now as[jv] he was going down, his slaves met him, saying that his child was alive. 52 So he inquired from them the hour at which he had gotten better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was that[jw] same hour at which Jesus said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 Now this is again a second sign Jesus performed when he[jx] came from Judea into Galilee.
A Paralytic Is Healed
5 After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool called in Aramaic Bethzatha,[jy] which has five porticoes. 3 In these were lying a large number of those who were sick, blind, lame, paralyzed.[jz] 5 And a certain man was there who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. 6 Jesus, when he[ka] saw this one lying there and knew that he had been sick[kb] a long time already, said to him, “Do you want to become well?” 7 The one who was sick answered him, “Sir, I do not have anyone that, whenever the water is stirred up, could put me into the pool. But while[kc] I am coming, another goes down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!” 9 And immediately the man became well and picked up his mat and began to walk.[kd] (Now it was the Sabbath on that day.)
10 So the Jews were saying to the one who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permitted for you to pick up the mat!”[ke] 11 But he answered them, “The one who made me well—that one said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk!’” 12 So they asked him,[kf] “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat[kg] and walk?’” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn while[kh] a crowd was in the place.
Equal with God
14 After these things Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “Look, you have become well! Sin no longer, lest something worse happen to you.” 15 The man went and reported to the Jews that Jesus was the one who made him well. 16 And on account of this the Jews began to persecute[ki] Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But he answered[kj] them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 So on account of this the Jews were seeking even more to kill him, because he not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God his own Father, thus[kk] making himself equal with God.
The Authority of the Son
19 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing from himself except what he sees the Father doing. For whatever that one does, these things also the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself is doing. And greater works than these he will show him, so that you will be astonished. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them[kl] alive, thus also the Son makes alive whomever he wishes. 22 For the Father does not judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 in order that all people[km] will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly I say to you that the one who hears my word and who believes the one who sent me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 “Truly, truly I say to you, that an hour is coming—and now is here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, thus also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has granted him authority to carry out judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be astonished at this, because an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and they will come out—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil things to a resurrection of judgment. 30 I am able to do nothing from myself. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.
Further Testimony About the Son
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. 33 You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 (And I do not receive testimony from people, but I say these things in order that you may be saved.) 35 That one was the lamp which was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light.
36 “But I have a testimony greater than John’s, for the works which the Father has given to me that I should complete them—the very works which I am doing—these testify about me, that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me, that one has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his form. 38 And you do not have his word residing in yourselves, because the one whom that one sent, in this one you do not believe. 39 You search[kn] the scriptures because you think that you have eternal life in them, and it is these that testify about me. 40 And you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
41 “I do not accept glory[ko] from people, 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If another should come in his own name, you would accept that one! 44 How are you able to believe, if you[kp] accept glory from one another, and do not seek the glory which is from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father! The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope! 46 For if you had believed Moses, you would believe me, for that one wrote about me. 47 But if you do not believe that one’s writings, how will you believe my words?”
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