Jesus

36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them. He said, "Peace be with you."

37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

But they were startled and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

He said to them, "Why are you upset? Why do doubts come into your hearts?

39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Look at my hands and my feet. It is really me. Touch me and see. A ghost does not have flesh and bones, but you can see that I do."

40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

They were so full of joy and wonder that they still could not believe it. He asked them, "Do you have any food here?"

42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

They gave him a piece of cooked fish and some honeycomb, the waxy comb that bees fill with honey.

43And he took it, and did eat before them.

He took it and ate it while they watched.

44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

He said to them, "This is what I told you when I was still with you. Everything written about me must come true. It is written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms."

45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Then he helped their minds understand the Scriptures.

46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

He said to them, "This is what was written. The Christ would suffer, and he would rise from the dead on the third day.

47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And in my name, people will tell all nations to turn from sin and be forgiven. This will start in Jerusalem.

48And ye are witnesses of these things.

You have seen all these things. You are the ones who will tell about them.

49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Listen, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city of Jerusalem until God gives you power from above."

50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

He led them out of the city as far as Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them.

51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

While he was blessing them, he left them. He was carried up into heaven.

52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

They worshipped him. Then they went back to Jerusalem, filled with great joy.

53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

They were always in the temple, God's house, praising and thanking God. Amen.

29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. He said, "Look, the Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world.

30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

This is the man I talked about. I said, 'A man is coming after me who is greater than me. He was here before me.'

31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

I did not know who he was. But I came baptizing with water so the people of Israel could see him."

32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Then John said, "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove. The Spirit stayed on him.

33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

I did not know who he was. But God sent me to baptize with water. God told me, 'You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man. He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'

34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

I saw it happen. And I have told everyone that this is the Son of God."

35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

The next day John was standing there again with two of his followers.

36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

He saw Jesus walking by. He said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

The two followers heard him say it. So they went and followed Jesus.

38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked, "What are you looking for?" They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Rabbi means teacher.

39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

Jesus said, "Come and see." So they went and saw where he was staying. They spent the rest of the day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

One of the two men who heard John and followed Jesus was Andrew. He was Simon Peter's brother.

41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

The first thing Andrew did was find his brother Simon. He said, "We have found the Messiah!" Messiah means the Christ, the king God promised.

42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, the son of Jona. You will be called Cephas." Cephas means a stone.

43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."

44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip came from a town called Bethsaida. Andrew and Peter came from that same town.

45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Philip found Nathanael. He said, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law. The prophets wrote about him too. He is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Nathanael said, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him. He said about him, "Here is a true Israelite. He does not trick anyone."

48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Nathanael said, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see much greater things than that."

51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Then he said, "I tell you the truth. You will all see heaven open. You will see God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man."

1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

On the third day there was a wedding party in a town called Cana, in the area called Galilee. Jesus' mother was there.

2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

Jesus and his followers were invited to the wedding too.

3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

The wine ran out. Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why is this our concern? It is not yet my time."

5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

His mother said to the helpers, "Do whatever he tells you to do."

6And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

Six big stone jars stood nearby. The Jewish people used them for washing before meals. Each jar held about twenty or thirty gallons.

7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

Jesus said to the helpers, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them right to the top.

8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

Then he said, "Now pour some out. Take it to the man in charge of the party." So they took it to him.

9When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

The man in charge tasted the water. It had turned into wine. He did not know where it came from, but the helpers who poured it knew. So he called the groom over.

10And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

He said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first. They serve the cheap wine later, after people have had plenty. But you saved the good wine until now!"

11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

This was the first miracle Jesus did. He did it in Cana, in Galilee. He showed how great he is, and his followers believed in him.

13And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

It was almost time for Passover, a Jewish holiday. So Jesus went up to the city of Jerusalem.

14And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

In the temple yard he found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves. Money changers were sitting at their tables.

15And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

So he made a whip out of cords. He drove them all out of the temple yard, along with the sheep and the cattle. He dumped out the money changers' coins and turned over their tables.

16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

He said to the men selling doves, "Take these things out of here! Do not turn my Father's house into a market!"

17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

His followers remembered these words from the Bible: "My love for your house burns inside me."

18Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

So the Jewish leaders asked him, "What sign can you show us to prove you may do this?"

19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Jesus answered, "Tear down this temple. In three days I will build it up again."

20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

They said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple. Will you build it up in three days?"

21But he spake of the temple of his body.

But Jesus was talking about his own body, not the building.

22When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Later Jesus died and came back to life. Then his followers remembered what he had said. They believed the Bible and the words Jesus had spoken.

1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

There was a man named Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee, one of the men who studied God's rules very carefully. He was also a leader of the Jewish people.

2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

He came to Jesus at night. He said, "Rabbi, that means teacher, we know God sent you to teach us. No one could do the wonderful signs you do unless God was with him."

3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jesus answered, "I am telling you the truth. A person must be born again. If he is not, he cannot see God's kingdom, where God is king."

4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Nicodemus said, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he go back inside his mother and be born a second time?"

5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Jesus answered, "I am telling you the truth. A person must be born of water and of the Spirit. If he is not, he cannot go into God's kingdom."

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

A baby born from people is a person. Life born from the Spirit is spirit.

7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Do not be surprised that I told you, "You must be born again."

8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

The wind blows wherever it wants. You hear the sound of it. But you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. Everyone born of the Spirit is like that.

9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Nicodemus asked him, "How can these things happen?"

10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Jesus answered, "You are a teacher of Israel. Do you not understand these things?

11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

I am telling you the truth. We speak about what we know. We tell what we have seen. But you people do not accept what we say.

12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

I have told you about things here on earth, and you do not believe me. So how will you believe if I tell you about things in heaven?

13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

No one has gone up into heaven. Only the One who came down from heaven has. He is the Son of Man, who is in heaven. Son of Man is a name Jesus used for himself.

14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Moses once lifted up a bronze snake on a pole out in the desert. In the same way, the Son of Man must be lifted up.

15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Then everyone who believes in him will not be lost. Instead, he will have life that lasts forever.

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. Then everyone who believes in him will not be lost. Instead, he will have life that lasts forever.

17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God did not send his Son into the world to say the world is guilty. He sent him so the world could be saved through him.

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Whoever believes in him is not called guilty. But whoever does not believe is already called guilty. That is because he has not believed in the name of God's only Son.

19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Here is the reason they are called guilty. The light came into the world. But people loved the dark more than the light, because the things they did were bad.

20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Everyone who does bad things hates the light. He will not come to the light. He does not want his deeds to be shown for what they are.

21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

But whoever lives by the truth comes to the light. Then it can be seen clearly that what he does is done with God.

1When therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

The Pharisees were teachers who cared very much about God's rules. They heard that more people were following Jesus than John. More people were being baptized by Jesus too. Jesus knew they had heard this.

2(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

Really, Jesus himself did not baptize anyone. His followers did the baptizing. Baptizing means washing someone in water to show they are turning to God.

3He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

So Jesus left the land of Judea. He went back to the land of Galilee.

4And he must needs go through Samaria.

On the way he had to go through a place called Samaria.

5Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

He came to a town in Samaria called Sychar. It was near the piece of land Jacob once gave his son Joseph.

6Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Jacob's well was there. Jesus was tired from walking, so he sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

A woman from Samaria came to get water. Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink."

8(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

His followers had gone into the town to buy food.

9Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

The woman said, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why would you ask me for a drink?" Jews and Samaritans did not share things with each other.

10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Jesus said, "You do not know what God wants to give you. You do not know who is asking you for a drink. If you did, you would ask me. And I would give you living water."

11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

The woman said, "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where will you get this living water?"

12Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

"Our father Jacob gave us this well. He drank from it, and so did his children and his animals. Are you greater than he was?"

13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again."

14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

"But whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. My water becomes a spring inside that person. It bubbles up and gives life that never ends."

15The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

The woman said, "Sir, give me that water. Then I will not be thirsty. I will not have to keep coming here."

16Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

Jesus said to her, "Go and call your husband. Then come back here."

17The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

The woman said, "I have no husband." Jesus said, "You are right to say that."

18For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

"You have had five husbands. And the man you live with now is not your husband. You told me the truth."

19The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

The woman said, "Sir, I can see you are a prophet. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says."

20Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

"Our fathers worshiped God on this mountain. But you Jews say people must worship in Jerusalem."

21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Jesus said, "Believe me, woman. A time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem." The Father means God.

22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

"You worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know. God's saving help comes through the Jews."

23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

"A time is coming, and it is already here. True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Those are the worshipers the Father is looking for."

24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

"God is Spirit. So people who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming. Messiah is also called Christ, the one God promised to send. When he comes, he will tell us everything."

26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

Jesus said to her, "I am he. I am the one talking with you right now."

27And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

Just then his followers came back. They were surprised he was talking with a woman. But no one asked what he wanted or why he was talking with her.

28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

The woman left her water jar there. She went back into the town and said to the people,

29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

"Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could he be the Christ?"

30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

So the people left the town and started out to see Jesus.

1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Some time later there was a Jewish feast day. Jesus went up to the city of Jerusalem.

2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

In Jerusalem there is a pool near the Sheep Gate. Its Hebrew name is Bethesda. It has five covered porches.

3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

Many sick people lay on those porches. Some were blind. Some could not walk. Some could not move their bodies. They were waiting for the water to move.

4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

People said that an angel came down at times and stirred the water. The first person to step in after that was healed of whatever sickness he had.

5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

One man there had been sick for thirty-eight years.

6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Jesus saw him lying there. He knew the man had been sick a long time. Jesus asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

7The impotent 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.

The sick man said, "Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water moves. While I am on my way, someone else always steps in first."

8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Jesus said to him, "Get up. Pick up your mat. Walk."

9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Right away the man was well. He picked up his mat and walked. That day was the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest.

10The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

So the Jewish leaders said to the healed man, "This is the Sabbath. Our law says you may not carry your mat."

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

He answered them, "The man who made me well told me to pick up my mat and walk."

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

They asked him, "Who is the man who told you to pick it up and walk?"

13And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

But the healed man did not know who it was. A crowd was there, and Jesus had quietly slipped away.

14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Later Jesus found him at the temple, God's house in Jerusalem. Jesus said, "Look, you are well now. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you."

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

The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

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

Because Jesus did these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to give him trouble and wanted to kill him.