"We are Abraham's offspring," they retorted, "we have never been slaves to anybody. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be free'?"

I know you are Abraham's offspring! Yet you want to kill me, since my word makes no headway among you!

They answered him, "Abraham is our father." "If you are Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then do as Abraham did;

but now you want to kill me ??to kill a man who has told you the truth, the truth I have learned from God. Abraham did not do that.

The Jews said to him, "Now we are sure you are mad. Abraham is dead, and so are all the prophets; and you declare, 'If anyone holds to what I say, he will never taste death'!

Are you greater than our father Abraham? He is dead, and the prophets are dead. Who do you claim to be?"

Your father Abraham exulted that he was to see my Day: he did see it and he rejoiced."

Then said the Jews to him, "You are not fifty years old, and Abraham has seen you?"

"Truly, truly I tell you," said Jesus, "I have existed before Abraham was born."