Others said, "These are not the words of someone dominated by an evil spirit. Can an evil spirit restore sight to a blind person?"

Jesus was walking in the Temple [area] in "Solomon's Portico" [Note: This was a large covered area, with rows of columns, on the outside of the Temple enclosure].

Some Jewish [authorities] gathered around Him and asked, "How long will you hold us in suspense? If you [really] are the Christ, tell us plainly."

But you do not believe me, because you are not [part] of my sheep.

What my Father has given me [i.e., my sheep] are greater than everything [else], and no one is able to steal them from the Father's hand.

I and the Father are one."

Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good deeds [i.e., miracles], performed through the Father. Which one of them are you stoning me for?"

The Jews answered Him, "We are not stoning you for a good deed, but for your abusive speech [i.e., about God], and because you are claiming to be God, even though you are [only] a man."

Jesus replied to them, "Is it not written in your law [Psa. 82:6], 'I said, you people are gods'?

how can you people say to Him, whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, 'You are speaking abusively [i.e., about God],' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? He is the One whom the Father set apart [i.e., for His service] and sent into the world.

The disciples replied to Him, "The Jews [there] have just been trying to stone you, and you are going back again?"

Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in a day? [i.e., hours of daylight]. If a person walks during daylight, he will not stumble because he can see [by] the sun's light.

Martha answered Him, "Yes, Lord, I have [already] believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

But a certain member of the Sanhedrin, [named] Caiaphas, who was head priest that year, said to [the rest of] them, "You do not know what you are talking about.

And you are not taking into consideration that it would be profitable to you for one man to die for the people, so that the entire nation would not be destroyed."

So, the Pharisees were saying among themselves, "Look, you men are getting nowhere [in this situation]. See, the [whole] world has gone after him."

And I know that [obeying] His commandments [leads to] never ending life. So, the things which I say are what the Father has told me [to say]."

He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet, [too]?"

Jesus replied to him, "The person who has already had a bath is completely clean and does not need to wash anything but his feet. And you disciples are [already] clean [i.e., spiritually], but not every one of you."

You call me 'Teacher,' and 'Lord,' and you are right in doing so because that is who I am.

Then after [he ate] the piece of bread, Satan entered Judas' heart. So, Jesus said to him, "Do what you are going to do, and do it quickly."

If you love one another, then everyone will know by [observing] this that you are my disciples."

Simon Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You cannot follow me where I am going now, but you will [be able to] follow later."

There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for each one you [in them]. I would not have told you this if it were not so.

Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how could we [possibly] know the way [to get there]?"

Truly, truly, I tell you, the person who believes in me will perform the deeds that I do also; and he will perform even greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father. [Note: The "greater deeds" are probably evangelizing the world].

When that day comes [i.e., after His ascension ?], you will know that I am in [fellowship with] the Father, and that you are in [fellowship with] me, and that I am in you [i.e., through the Holy Spirit].

The person who knows [what] my commandments [are] and obeys them is the one who [truly] loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.

The person who does not love me will not obey my teaching. And the message you are hearing is not mine, but belongs to the Father, who sent me.

You people are already 'clean' [i.e., have been pruned of undesirable traits] because of [obedience to] the teaching I have given you.

"I am the vine; you people are the branches. The person who remains united to me, and I to him, will bear much fruit. For you cannot do anything if [you are] separated from me.

My Father is honored by your bearing much fruit and [thus] showing that you are my disciples.

You people are my friends if you do what I command you to.

But they [i.e., the world] will do all these things to you for my name's sake [i.e., because you are my disciples], for they do not know Him [i.e., God], who sent me.

"But now I am going to Him who sent me; yet none of you is asking me, 'Where are you going?'

And now that I have told you these things, your hearts are full of grief.

However, when the Holy Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you [apostles] into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but will speak [only] what He hears [from the Father]. And He will tell you about the things that are to come.

Jesus sensed that the disciples wanted to ask Him a question, so He said to them, "Are you discussing among yourselves my saying 'After a little while [longer] you will not see me. Then, a little while [later] you will see me again'?

[Then] Jesus' disciples said [to Him], "Look, you are speaking plainly now, and not in figurative language.

And [now] I am coming to you, for I will not be in the world any longer, yet these men are [still] in the world. Holy Father, protect them by [the power of] your name which you have given me. May these men be one, as we are.

[I pray] that all of them may be one, just as you, Father, are [one] in [fellowship with] me, and I [am one] in [fellowship with] you, so that they also may be [one] in [fellowship with] us in order that the world may [see it and] believe that you sent me.

And I have given them [i.e., all believers] the honor which you gave me, so that they may be one, just as we are one:

Since Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to Him, He went out and said to them, "Who are you men looking for?"

So, He asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" And they answered, "Jesus, from Nazareth."

Jesus said to them, "I [already] told you that I am [He]; so if you are looking for me, let these men [i.e., the apostles] go."

So, the slave-girl gatekeeper asked Peter, "Are you not one of this man's disciples, too?" "[No], I am not," Peter replied.

Why are you asking me? Ask the people who have heard me about what I said to them. Look, these people know what I said."

Now Simon Peter had been standing and warming himself [by the outdoor charcoal fire]. So, someone asked him, "Are you not one of His disciples, too?" Peter denied it, saying, "[No], I am not."

So, Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus. He said to Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered, "Are you saying this of your own accord, or did other people tell you about me?"

So, Pilate said to Him, "Are you a king, then?" Jesus answered, "You are [correct in] calling me a 'king.' This was the [very] purpose for which I was born and came into the world, that I should testify about the truth. Every person who wants [to know and obey] the truth listens to me."

Then Pilate said to Him, "Are you not going to speak to me? Do you not know that I have the authority to release you or to crucify you?"

After [hearing] this, Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the Jews shouted out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar's. Everyone who claims to be a king [i.e., as they had accused Jesus of doing. See 18:37] is in opposition to Caesar."

They said to Mary, "[My dear] woman, why are you crying?" She answered, "They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put Him."

[Then] Jesus said to her, "[My dear] woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Assuming He was the grounds keeper, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away from here, tell me where you laid Him, and I will go and get Him."

Jesus said to him, "Have you believed [that I am alive] because you have seen me? Those who have not seen me and yet believe are [even more] blessed."

Jesus performed many other [miraculous] signs in front of His disciples which are not recorded in this book [i.e., in the Gospel of John].

But these [signs] are written down so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that when you believe [this], you will have [never ending] life in His name [i.e., through His person and work].

Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." [But] none of the disciples dared to ask Him, "Who are you?" because they [already] knew it was the Lord.

So, after they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you really love me more than these [other disciples do]?" Peter answered Him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." [Note: Since two different Greek words for "love" are used in this conversation, some scholars see a distinction in their meaning. See Butler, Vol. II, pp. 453-457 for a discussion of these views]. Jesus replied to him, "[Then] feed my lambs."

Truly, truly, I tell you [Peter], when you were young you used to fasten your belt around you [i.e., to get ready] and travel wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you up and take you [away] to where you do not want to go."

When the apostles had come together, they asked [Jesus], "Lord, are you ready to restore the kingdom [of God] to [the nation of] Israel [at this time]?"

Jesus replied, "You are not permitted to know the [specific] time or date [when this will happen]. For the Father has appointed it [to happen] when He determines [the right time].

and said, "You men from Galilee, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus who was received up from your presence into the sky will return in the same way you saw Him go there."

Being so amazed and astounded [at something so unusual happening], they exclaimed, "Look! are not all these men who are speaking from [the country of] Galilee?

How is it then, that we are hearing them speak in our own native languages:

But others made fun of them, saying, "Oh, they are just drunk [i.e., full of new wine]."

For these men [i.e., the twelve apostles] are not drunk as you suppose, since it is only nine o'clock in the morning. [Note: The use of Jewish time calculations are employed in this verse].

So, God raised this Jesus up [from the dead] and we [apostles] are all witnesses [of it].

For the promise [of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit] is being given to you [Jews] and to your descendants and [also] to all those who are far away [i.e., Gentiles. See Eph. 2:17]. [This promise is] to as many as [respond to] the Lord, our God's call [through the Gospel, See II Thess. 2:14]."

praising God and enjoying favor with all the people [of the area]. And every day the Lord added to their number [i.e., to the church] those who were being saved [i.e., upon their obedience to the Gospel].

Now Peter and John were going to the Temple at three o'clock one afternoon [Note: Jewish time calculations are employed here], during the regular [Jewish] prayer hour.

And all the people [there in the Temple area] saw him walking and [heard him] praising God.

And as this [former] crippled man stayed close beside Peter and John, all the people rushed toward them at "Solomon's Portico" [Note: This was a large covered area, with rows of columns, on the side of the Temple enclosure], completely astonished [at what had happened].

And when Peter saw [the crowd assembling] he gave this explanation: "Men of Israel, why are you so shocked at [what happened to] this man? And why are you gazing at us, as though it were by our power or godly qualities that we caused him to walk?

You people are descendants of these prophets and [recipients] of the Agreement God made with your forefathers when He said to Abraham [Gen. 12:3], 'And through your seed [i.e., your descendant Jesus] all the people of the earth will receive the blessings [of God].'

if we are being questioned today concerning how this man with a serious handicap was made completely well,

Then Peter said to her, "Why did you agree together [with your husband] to put the Holy Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the ones who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out [to bury you, too]."

[Just then] someone came in and said, "Look, the men you put in jail are [now] standing in the Temple teaching people."

We apostles are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to every person who obeys Him."

Brothers, select from among you seven men with good reputations, who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to take care of this matter.

Then the head priest asked [Stephen], "Are these charges true?"

And God said, 'I will judge the nation [i.e., Egypt] that enslaves them and [then] after my people are liberated, they will serve me in this place [i.e., Palestine].'

The next day Moses came across a couple of his relatives who were fighting and tried to settle their dispute by saying, 'Brothers, since you are fellow-countrymen, why are you hurting each other?'

Are you going to kill me like you did that Egyptian yesterday?'

And the Lord said to him, 'Take off your shoes, [Moses], for the place you are standing on is holy ground.

You people are unbending and unrepentant in your hearts and [unwilling to listen with] your ears. You are always resisting [the desires of] the Holy Spirit just like your forefathers did.

So, repent [i.e., change your heart and life] of such a terrible thing and pray for the Lord to forgive you for even thinking of such a thing. Perhaps He will [if you are really sincere].

For I can see that your life is as bitter gall [i.e., very evil] and you are enslaved by [your] sins."

So, Philip ran over to it and [when he got near enough] he heard the Ethiopian eunuch reading from Isaiah the prophet and asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

Saul replied, "Who are you, sir?" And the voice said, "It is I, Jesus, whom you are persecuting,

And so Saul began proclaiming that Jesus was the Son of God in the synagogues [of the Damascus area].

While Peter was thinking about [the meaning of] the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Look, there are three men [here] looking for you.

So, Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come here?"

So, I proceeded to send [my men] for you and you have done the right thing in coming [here]. Now, therefore, we are all assembled here before God, to hear everything you were commanded by the Lord [to tell us]."

And we [apostles] are witnesses of all that He did, both in the region where Jews lived and in Jerusalem [as well]. But they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree [i.e., the cross].

And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He [i.e., Jesus] is the One whom God ordained to be the Judge of people who are [now] alive and those who have [already] died.

And they said to her, "You are crazy." But she insisted that [what she reported] was true. They replied, "It is [only] his angel."

and said, "You child of the devil; you enemy of all that is right; you are full of deceit and every kind of evil [thing]. When will you stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?