The Word [already] existed in the beginning [of time]. [Note: This is a reference to the preexistence of Jesus. See verse 14]. And the Word was with God and the Word was [what] God [was].

He came to be a witness, so that he might testify concerning that Light, so that all people would believe [in Jesus] through him [i.e., through his testimony. See Acts 19:4].

John gave testimony about Jesus, shouting out, "This person is the one about whom I said, 'He who will come after me ranks above me because He existed before me.'"

the law indeed was delivered by Moses, but grace and truth was the dispensation of Jesus Christ.

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "behold the lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world."

and seeing Jesus as he walked, he said, "behold the lamb of God."

the two disciples hearing this, followed Jesus.

then Jesus turned about, and seeing them following, said, what do you seek? they answered him, rabbi, that is to say master, where do you dwell?

Jesus answered, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o'clock in the afternoon.

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two disciples, who had followed Jesus, after they had heard what John had said.

and 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.

The day following Jesus having a mind to go into Galilee, met with Philip, and said to him, follow me.

The day following, Jesus wished to go into Galilee; and he found Philip, and said to him: Follow me.

Philip meeting with Nathanael, said to 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 Nathaniel, and said to him: We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the SOD of Joseph.

Jesus seeing Nathanael coming, said of him, there's a true Israelite, in whom is no guile. how do you know me?

said Nathanael to him. before Philip called you, replied Jesus, I saw you under the fig-tree.

Nathaniel said to him: How knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him: Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig-tree, I saw you.

Jesus answered him, because thou believest what I said, that I saw thee under the fig-tree, thou shalt see greater things than these.

Then Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened up and the angels of God going up [from] and coming down on the Son of man" [i.e., probably a reference to angels ministering to Jesus' needs. See Matt. 4:6, 11; Luke 22:43].

Three days after, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee; where the mother of Jesus was present.

as likewise Jesus and his disciples, who were all invited to the feast.

now when the wine was out, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine.

Jesus answer'd her, woman, leave that affair to me, is not that my concern?

And there were six waterpots of stone sitting there according to the purification of the Jews, containing about two or three firkins. Jesus says to them,

these Jesus order'd the waiters to fill with water. so they filled them up to the brim.

thus was the first miracle of Jesus wrought at Cana in Galilee, by which he displayed his power; and his disciples believed on him.

After this Jesus went home to Capernaum, with His mother and brothers and disciples, and stayed there for a few days.

for the Jews passover being nigh, Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

Then Jesus made a whip out of strands of rope and drove all of the sheep and oxen out of the Temple [area], dumped out the cashiers' money and overturned their tables.

Then Jesus' disciples remembered that it was written [Psa. 69:9], "Enthusiasm for Your [i.e., God's] house [i.e., the Temple] will consume me."

Upon this the Jews asked Jesus: "What sign are you going to show us, since you act in this way?"

Jesus answered them, saying, destroy this temple, and within three days I will raise it up.

But Jesus was speaking about the "temple" of His [physical] body.

and when he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembred that expression of his: and they believed the scripture, and what Jesus had said.

Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people believed in His name [i.e., in Jesus Himself] when they saw the [miraculous] signs He was doing.

but Jesus did not trust his person with them, because he knew them all.

who came to Jesus by night, and said to him, rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher sent from God: for no man can perform the miracles that you do, except God be with him.

Jesus answered him, I declare unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jesus answered, I tell thee, except a man be renewed by the spiritual baptism, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Then Nicodemus asked Jesus, "How can these things happen?"

Jesus answered him, are you a doctor in Israel, and not know these things?

Truly, truly, I tell you, we [i.e., Jesus and His disciples] speak about what we know, and testify about what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony.

so that whoever believes in Him would have never ending life." [Note: Some translations extend Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus through verse 21].

After this Jesus went with his disciples into Judea, where he stay'd with them for some time,

Then was there an investigation of John's disciples with Jesus about purification.

These disciples went to John and said to him, "Rabbi, look, that man who was with you on the east side of the Jordan River [i.e., Jesus], whom you testified about, is immersing people and everyone is going to him." [Note: Actually, it was Jesus' disciples who did the immersing. See 4:2].

The one who has the bride is the groom; but the best man, who stands up with him and listens to him [take his vows], is very happy when he hears him speak. So, [now] my joy is complete [i.e. over hearing about Jesus' ministry].

He [i.e., Jesus] must increase [in importance and influence], while I must decrease."

The One who comes from above [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others]; but the one who is out of the earth [i.e., of human origin] is [merely] an earthly [being] and he speaks in earthly [ways]. [But] the One who comes from heaven [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others].

The person who has accepted Jesus' testimony has confirmed this [fact], that God is truthful.

For the One whom God has sent [i.e., Jesus] speaks the words of God, for He [i.e., God] does not give the Holy Spirit in a limited quantity [i.e., to Jesus. See next verse].

Jesus therefore knowing the Pharisees had heard that he made more disciples, and baptized more than John,

(though Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples) he left Judea,

He left Judea and returned to Galilee. (Although it was actually His disciples who did the immersing and not Jesus Himself).

[Now to get to Galilee] it required that Jesus travel through Samaria [Note: Samaria was the next country north of Judea].

now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, sat him down by the well: it being about the sixth hour.

where a woman of Samaria being come to draw water, Jesus said to her, give me to drink.

(Now Jesus' disciples had gone away to town to buy some food).

Jesus answered her, if you knew the dispensation of God, and who it is that says to you, give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.

Jesus answered her, they that drink of this water, will be thirsty again:

go, call your husband, said Jesus, and come again.

the woman answered, I have no husband. Jesus replied, you were in the right to say you have no husband:

Jesus told her, "You are quite right in saying, "I don't have a husband,' because you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true."

[Then] the woman said to Jesus, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

Jesus said to her, woman, believe me, the time is coming when it shall be neither on this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem that ye shall worship the father.

[Then] the woman said to Jesus, "I know that Messiah is coming ([He is] the One who is called Christ). And when He does come, He will tell us everything."

Jesus said to her, I that am talking with you am he.

Just about then Jesus' disciples returned [from town], and were surprised to find Him talking with a woman. [Note: It was not customary for a Jewish male to engage a woman in extended conversation in that day, much less a stranger, and certainly not a Samaritan], yet no one said [to Him], "What are you looking for?" or "Why are you talking to her?"

[So], the people went out from the town and came to where Jesus was.

While this was taking place, the disciples were saying to Jesus, Master, take some food.

Jesus saith to them,

Jesus said to them, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Then many Samaritans from Sychar believed in Jesus because of the testimony of the woman, who said, "He told me everything that I ever did."

So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they kept on urging Him to stay with them; so He did stay there two days.

And many more people believed [in Jesus] because of His [own] words,

After the two days were over, Jesus left there and went on to Galilee,

(tho' Jesus himself had declared, that a prophet is not honoured in his own country.)

Jesus went therefore a second time to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. now a certain nobleman was there, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

who having heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went there to desire him to come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

but Jesus said to him, except you see signs and miracles, you will not believe.

"Sir," said the officer, "come down before my child dies." And Jesus answered: "Go, your son is living."

go thy way, said Jesus: thy son is well. and the man believed what Jesus had said to him, and went his way.

so the father knew that it was at the very same hour, at which Jesus said to him, thy son is well. and he himself believed, and all his family.

Jesus did this second miracle when he return'd from Judea to Galilee.

Some time after this the feast of the Jews being come, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Jesus seeing him lie there, and knowing that he had been sick a long time, said to him, will you be cured?

rise, said Jesus to him, take up thy bed, and go your way.

and he that was healed, did not know who it was: for Jesus had slip'd away, by favour of the crowd that was there.

sometime after Jesus met him in the temple, and said to him, you see you were cured: sin no more, lest you suffer something worse.

then the man departed to acquaint the Jews, that it was Jesus who had cured him.

upon which occasion the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he did such things on the sabbath-day.

But Jesus answered them, my father works without intermission, and so do I.

For this cause the Jews had an even greater desire to put Jesus to death, because not only did he not keep the Sabbath but he said God was his Father, so making himself equal with God.

upon which Jesus said to them, verily, verily I say unto you, the son can do nothing of himself, except he sees the father do it: for whatever he doth, that the son does likewise.

And you do not keep His message living in your [hearts], for you do not believe [in] the One whom God sent [i.e., in Jesus].

At length Jesus passed over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias;

Jesus therefore went up a mountain, where he sat down with his disciples.

Jesus then lifting up his eyes, and seeing a great company coming to him, said to Philip, where can we buy bread to feed this people?

(Now Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.)