The Apostle John writes this brief personal letter late in the first century, likely from Ephesus, addressing pastoral concerns within the churches under his oversight. As an aging apostle, John maintains close relationships with various congregations and their leaders, regularly sending traveling missionaries and teachers to strengthen the faith of believers. This epistle focuses on specific individuals within a local church: Gaius, a faithful believer who has been hospitably supporting these itinerant ministers; Diotrephes, a church leader who has been rejecting John's authority and refusing to welcome the apostle's representatives; and Demetrius, who comes well-recommended. The letter emerges from a situation where John's apostolic authority is being challenged, and faithful believers need encouragement to continue supporting legitimate Christian workers despite opposition from those seeking preeminence in the church. John is addressing Gaius, whom he calls "the beloved."
[1] The Elder,
To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:
[2] Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. [3] For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. [4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
[5] Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, [6] who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, [7] because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. [8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
[9] I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. [10] Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
[11] Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
[12] Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.
[13] I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; [14] but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.
Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Jesus returns to Jerusalem and enters the temple courts, where he had previously driven out the merchants and money changers. The chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders approach him, questioning the authority by which he performs these actions. After responding to their challenge, Jesus begins teaching in the temple using parables directed at the religious leaders, including a story about tenant farmers who rebel against a vineyard owner. The religious leaders recognize that Jesus is speaking against them and seek to arrest him, but they fear the crowd's reaction. They then send Pharisees and Herodians to trap Jesus with a question designed to create conflict either with the Roman authorities or with the Jewish people who resent Roman taxation. The religious leaders are addressing Jesus, and Jesus is responding to them while teaching the crowds present in the temple courts.
[27] Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. [28] And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”
[29] But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: [30] The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
[31] And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ [32] But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. [33] So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
[1] Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. [2] Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. [3] And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. [4] Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. [5] And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. [6] Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ [7] But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ [8] So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.
[9] “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. [10] Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
[11] This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?”
[12] And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.
[13] Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. [14] When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? [15] Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it. ” [16] So they brought it.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
[17] And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
And they marveled at Him.
Jesus has just been confronted by the chief priests, scribes, and elders in the temple courts who questioned his authority to teach and drive out merchants. After responding with a counter-question about John the Baptist's authority that left them unable to answer, Jesus now turns to address the people gathered around him. The religious leaders remain present, listening as Jesus begins teaching through parables. The tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious establishment has been escalating throughout his ministry in Jerusalem, with these leaders increasingly seeking ways to arrest him while fearing the crowd's reaction, as the people regard Jesus as a prophet. Jesus is addressing the crowd, though the religious leaders are also present and listening.
[9] Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. [10] Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. [11] Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. [12] And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.
[13] “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ [14] But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ [15] So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? [16] He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.”
And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”
[17] Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone’ ?
[18] Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
[19] And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people —for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.
Felix served as governor of Judea for two years while keeping Paul imprisoned in Caesarea, hoping Paul would offer him a bribe for release. During this time, Felix frequently summoned Paul for conversations. When Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as governor, Felix left Paul in prison to gain favor with the Jewish leaders. Three days after arriving in the province, Festus traveled from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul and requested his transfer to Jerusalem, secretly planning to ambush and kill him along the way. Festus refused their request and invited them to come to Caesarea instead to present their accusations. After spending eight to ten days in Jerusalem, Festus returned to Caesarea and convened court the following day. When Paul appeared, the Jews from Jerusalem surrounded him with many serious charges they could not prove. Paul defended himself by denying any offense against Jewish law, the temple, or Caesar. Festus, wanting to please the Jewish leaders, asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem for trial, but Paul refused and appealed his case to Caesar, which was his right as a Roman citizen.
[27] But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
[1] Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. [2] Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, [3] asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. [4] But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. [5] “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”
[6] And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. [7] When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, [8] while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”
[9] But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”
[10] So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. [11] For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
[12] Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”
Jesus has entered Jerusalem to great acclaim, with crowds welcoming him as king. Greeks seeking Jesus approach Philip, prompting Jesus to declare that his hour of glorification has come through his impending death, which he describes using the metaphor of a grain of wheat falling into the ground. He teaches about losing one's life to find it and promises that those who serve him will be honored by the Father. Jesus is addressing the crowd gathered around him, including his disciples and the Greeks who had come to see him.
[27] “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. [28] Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
[29] Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
[30] Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. [31] Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. [32] And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” [33] This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
[34] The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
[35] Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. [36] While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
[37] But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, [38] that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
[39] Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
[40] “Hehas blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”
[41] These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
[42] Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; [43] for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Jesus continues teaching in the temple courts in Jerusalem during the final week before his crucifixion. After entering the city triumphantly, cleansing the temple, and performing healings, Jesus has been confronting the chief priests and elders who questioned his authority. He has just told them the parable of the two sons to illustrate their disobedience to God despite their religious position. The religious leaders have witnessed Jesus's growing popularity with the crowds and are increasingly threatened by his ministry, seeking ways to arrest him while fearing the people's reaction. Jesus is addressing the chief priests and elders of the people.
[33] “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. [34] Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. [35] And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. [36] Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. [37] Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ [38] But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ [39] So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
[40] “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
[41] They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
[42] Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?
[43] “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. [44] And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
[45] Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. [46] But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.