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.)

One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Jesus,

but Jesus said, make the men sit down. and as there was much grass in the place, they sat down to the number of about five thousand.

then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were sate down; and likewise of the fishes, as much as they would.

And when they had had enough, Jesus said to his disciples, Take up the broken bits which are over, so that nothing may be wasted.

The people, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, cry'd out, this is of a truth that prophet who was to come into the world.

but Jesus perceiving they designed to come and take him by force to make him a king, retired again upon a mountain all alone.

they cross'd the sea to Capernaum: now when it was dark, Jesus was not come to them:

Jesus had not yet come to them, and the sea began to rise, because a strong wind was blowing.

so when they had rowed about five and twenty, or thirty furlongs, seeing Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh to the ship, they were frightned.

But Jesus said to them: "It is I; do not be afraid!"

The day following, the people who stay'd on the other side of the sea, perceiving that there had been only that single vessel in which his disciples were embark'd, that Jesus did not embark with his disciples, but that his disciples were gone away alone: (however,

though there came other vessels from Tiberias, near the place where they had eaten bread after the Lord had given thanks: when therefore the people saw that Jesus was not there,

the people likewise seeing that Jesus was not in those barks, nor his disciples, went on board them, and cross'd to Capernaum in quest of Jesus.

Jesus answered them, I declare unto you, you seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye had loaves to eat, and were filled.

Then the people said to Jesus, "What must we do in order to perform the deeds that God requires?"

Jesus answered them, the work which God requires is to believe on him whom he hath sent.

Jesus answer'd, I assure you, Moses did not give you the celestial bread; but my father gives you the true celestial bread.

Then said they to him, Lord, ever give us this bread. And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life.

Jesus answer'd, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me, shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me, shall never thirst.

Now the Jews said bitter things about Jesus because of his words, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

answered Jesus; "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him; then I will raise him up on the last day.

[I am] not [saying] that anyone has [ever] seen the Father, except the One who is from God [i.e., Jesus] has seen Him.

[But] this is the bread that has come down from heaven [i.e., Jesus is referring to Himself], so that a person who eats of it [i.e., believes in Jesus] will not die [spiritually].

Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began to argue with one another, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves.

This is the bread that came down from heaven [i.e., Jesus is referring to Himself]. [It is] not like [the bread] our forefathers ate and [then] died. The person who eats this bread will live forever."

These things said Jesus in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

So, when they heard [these things], many of Jesus' disciples said, "This is difficult teaching. Who can listen to it [i.e., and accept it]?"

But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doth this cause you to stumble?

It is the Holy Spirit who [Note: The Greek word here is "that" instead of "who"] gives life [i.e., understanding the spiritual nature of Jesus' teaching can produce spiritual life]; the flesh is of no value [i.e., understanding Jesus' teaching only in a physical sense makes it worthless]. The words I have spoken to you are [from the] Holy Spirit and [they give] life.

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him.

So Jesus added, "Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come."

Upon [hearing] this, many of Jesus' disciples turned back and refused to accompany Him anymore. [Note: They deserted Jesus physically as well as spiritually].

Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, Would ye also go away?

Jesus answered them, Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil?

He was talking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. It was he who was to be false to Jesus--one of the twelve.

And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judaea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

Then Jesus' [half-] brothers said to Him, "You should leave here and go to Judea so your disciples [there] can see the [supernatural] deeds you are performing.

(For neither did his brethren believe on him.) Jesus saith to them, My time is not yet come: your time is always ready.

Jesus therefore saith unto them, My time is not yet come; but your time is always ready.

Then after saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee [i.e., for awhile longer. See next verse].

But, when his brothers had gone up to the Festival, Jesus also went up--not publicly, but privately.

But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.