2 Christ, after his cousins were gone up to the feast of Tabernacles, 10 goeth thither privily. 12 The people’s sundry opinions of him. 14 He teacheth in the Temple. 32 The Priests command to take him. 41 Strife among the multitude about him, 47 and between the Pharisees and the officers that were sent to take him, 50 and Nicodemus.

After these things, Jesus walked in Galilee, and would not walk in Judea: for the Jews sought to kill him.

Now the Jews’ (A)[a]feast of the Tabernacles was at hand.

[b]His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples may see thy works that thou doest.

For there is no man that doeth anything secretly, and he himself seeketh to be famous. If thou doest these things, show thyself to the world.

For as yet his [c]brethren believed not in him.

[d]Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready.

The world cannot hate you: but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Go ye up unto this feast: I will not go up yet unto this feast: (B)for my time is not yet fulfilled.

¶ These things he said unto them, and abode still in Galilee.

10 [e]But as soon as his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were privily.

11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?

12 And much murmuring was there of him among the people. Some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay: but he deceiveth the people.

13 Howbeit no man spake [f]openly of him for fear of the Jews.

14 [g]Now when [h]half the feast was done, Jesus went up into the Temple, and taught.

15 And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man the Scriptures, seeing that he never learned!

16 [i]Jesus answered them, and said, [j]My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

18 [k]He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

19 (C)[l]Did not Moses give you a Law, and yet none of you keepeth the Law? (D)Why go ye about to kill me?

20 The people answered, and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

21 [m]Jesus answered, and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

22 (E)Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision, (not because it is of Moses, but of the (F)fathers) and ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man.

23 If a man on the Sabbath receive circumcision, that the [n]Law of Moses should not be broken, be ye angry with me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day?

24 (G)[o]Judge not [p]according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

25 [q]Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he whom they go about to kill?

26 And behold, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing to him: do the rulers know indeed that this is indeed that Christ?

27 [r]Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when that Christ cometh, no man shall know whence he is.

28 [s]Then cried Jesus in the Temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am: yet am I not come of myself, but he that sent me, is true, whom ye know not.

29 But I know him: for I am of him, and he hath sent me.

30 [t]Then they sought to take him, but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

31 Now many of the people believed on him, and said, When that Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than this man hath done?

32 [u]The Pharisees heard that the people murmured these things of him, and the Pharisees, and high Priests sent officers to take him.

33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet am I a little while with you, and then go I unto him that sent me.

34 (H)Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me, and where I am, can ye not come.

35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto them that are [v]dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

36 What saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me? and where I am, can ye not come?

37 [w]Now in the [x]last and (I)great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth in me, (J)as saith the [y]Scripture, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life.

39 ((K)This spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed in him, should receive: for the [z]holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet [aa]glorified.)

40 [ab]So many of the people, when they heard this saying, said, (L)Of a truth this is that Prophet:

41 Others said, This is that Christ: and some said, But shall that Christ come out of Galilee?

42 (M)Saith not the Scripture that that Christ shall come of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

43 So was there dissension among the people for him.

44 And some of them would have taken him, but no man laid hands on him.

45 [ac]Then came the officers to the high Priests and Pharisees, and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

48 [ad]Doth any of the rulers, or of the Pharisees believe in him?

49 But this people, which know not the Law, are cursed,

50 Nicodemus said unto them, ((N)he that came to Jesus by night, and was one of them.)

51 Doth our Law judge a man before it hear him, (O)and know [ae]what he hath done?

52 They answered, and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet.

53 [af]And every man went unto his own house.

Footnotes

  1. John 7:2 This feast was so called, because of the booths and tents which they pight of divers kinds of boughs, and sat under them seven days together; all which time the feast lasted.
  2. John 7:3 The grace of God cometh not by inheritance, but it is a gift that cometh other ways, whereby it cometh to pass, that oftentimes the children of God suffer more affliction by their own kinsfolk than by strangers.
  3. John 7:5 His kinsfolk: for so use the Hebrews to speak.
  4. John 7:6 We must not follow the foolish desires of our friends.
  5. John 7:10 An example of horrible confusion in the very bosom of the Church. The Pastors oppress the people with terrors and fear: the people seek Christ, when he appeareth not: when he offereth himself, they neglect him. Some also that know him condemn him rashly: a very few think well of him, and that in secret.
  6. John 7:13 Or, boldly and freely: for the chief of the Jews sought nothing so much, as to bury his fame and name.
  7. John 7:14 Christ striveth with goodness against the wickedness of the world: in the mean season the most part of men take occasion of offense even by that fame, whereby they ought to have been stirred up to embrace Christ.
  8. John 7:14 About the fourth day of the feast.
  9. John 7:16 Therefore are there few to whom the Gospel favoreth well, because the study of godliness is very rare.
  10. John 7:16 See John 5:22, and he speaketh this after the opinion of the Jews, as if he said, My doctrine is not mine, that is, it is not his whom you take to be a man as others are, and therefore set light by him, but it is his that sent me.
  11. John 7:18 The true doctrine of salvation differeth from the false in this, that the same setteth forth the glory of God, and this by puffing up of men darkeneth the glory of God.
  12. John 7:19 None do more confidently boast themselves to be the defenders of the Law of God, than they that do most impudently break it.
  13. John 7:21 The Sabbath day (which is here set before us for a rule of all ceremonies) was not appointed to hinder but to further and practice God’s works: amongst which the love of our neighbor is the chiefest.
  14. John 7:23 That is to say, if the law of circumcision which Moses gave, be of so great accompt amongst you, that you doubt not to circumcise upon the Sabbath, do you rightly reprove me for healing a man thoroughly?
  15. John 7:24 We must judge according to the truth of things, lest the persons of men do turn us and carry us away.
  16. John 7:24 By the show that I make: for I seem to be but an abject and rascal of Galilee, and a carpenter’s son, whom no man maketh account of: but mark the matter itself well, and judge the tree by the fruit.
  17. John 7:25 Many do marvel that the endeavors of the enemies of God have no success: yet in the mean season they do not acknowledge the virtue and power of God.
  18. John 7:27 Men are very wise to procure stops and stays to themselves.
  19. John 7:28 The truth of Christ doth not hang upon the judgment of man.
  20. John 7:30 The wicked cannot do what they list, but what God hath appointed.
  21. John 7:32 As the kingdom of God increaseth, so increaseth the rage of his enemies, till at length they in vain seek for those blessings absent, which they despised when they were present.
  22. John 7:35 Word for word, (to the dispersion of the Gentiles or Greeks) and under the name of the Greeks he understandeth the Jews which were dispersed amongst the Gentiles.
  23. John 7:37 There are two principles of our salvation: the one is to be thoroughly touched with a true feeling of our extreme poverty: the other to seek in Christ only (whom we catch hold on by faith) the abundance of all good things.
  24. John 7:37 The last day of the feast of Tabernacles, that as, the eighth day, was as high a day, as the first.
  25. John 7:38 This is not read word for word in any place, but it seemeth to be taken out of many places where mention is made of the gifts of the holy Ghost, as Joel 2; Isa. 44, but especially in Isa. 55.
  26. John 7:39 What is meant by the holy Ghost, he expressed a little before, speaking of the Spirit which they that believed in him should receive. So that by the name of holy Ghost, are meant the virtues and mighty workings of the holy Ghost.
  27. John 7:39 That is, those things were not yet seen and perceived, which were to show and set forth the glory of the only begotten.
  28. John 7:40 There is contention even in the Church itself about the chief point of religion: neither hath Christ any more cruel enemies than those that occupy the seat of truth: yet can they not do what they would.
  29. John 7:45 God from heaven scorneth such as are his son’s enemies.
  30. John 7:48 False Pastors are so fond and foolish that they esteem the Church of God according to the multitude and outward show.
  31. John 7:51 What he hath committed, who is accused.
  32. John 7:53 There is no counsel against the Lord.

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.”