The apostles and other believers, numbering about one hundred twenty, have been waiting in Jerusalem as Jesus instructed them before his ascension. During this time, they replaced Judas Iscariot by casting lots between two candidates, with Matthias being chosen to restore the number of apostles to twelve. They have been devoting themselves to prayer in an upper room, anticipating the promise Jesus made that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit and receive power to be his witnesses. The Jewish festival of Pentecost has now arrived, bringing many Jews from various nations to Jerusalem for the celebration, fifty days after Passover. The apostles remain gathered together when the promised Holy Spirit descends upon them with signs of wind and fire, enabling them to speak in different languages and drawing a crowd of bewildered pilgrims who hear the gospel in their native tongues. Peter is addressing the crowd of Jews gathered in Jerusalem.
[1] When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
[5] And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. [6] And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. [7] Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? [8] And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? [9] Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” [12] So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
[13] Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. [15] For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. [16] But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
[17] ‘Andit shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
[18] And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
[19] I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
[21] And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
Jesus has just finished comforting His disciples during the Last Supper by promising to prepare a place for them in His Father's house and declaring Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. Thomas had questioned how they could know the way, and Philip had asked Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus responded by explaining His unity with the Father, stating that seeing Him means seeing the Father, and that His words and works demonstrate this divine relationship. He encouraged the disciples to believe in Him because of the works themselves, and promised that those who believe would do even greater works because He is going to the Father. He assured them that whatever they ask in His name, He will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Jesus is addressing His disciples.
[15] “If you love Me, keep My commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— [17] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
[19] “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. [20] At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. [21] He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
[22] Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
[23] Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. [24] He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
Jesus has been teaching His disciples about faithful stewardship and readiness for His return, warning them to be like servants waiting for their master and emphasizing that much will be required from those given much responsibility. He has also addressed the crowds about hypocrisy, fear, and trusting God's provision while warning against greed and anxiety about earthly possessions. Peter recently asked whether Jesus's teaching about watchfulness applied only to the disciples or to everyone, prompting Jesus to explain the different levels of accountability for servants who know their master's will versus those who do not. The discourse now shifts as Jesus speaks about the divisive nature of His mission and the urgency of the present moment. Jesus is addressing both His disciples and the crowds who have gathered around Him.
[49] “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! [50] But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! [51] Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. [52] For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. [53] Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
[54] Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. [55] And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. [56] Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?
[57] “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? [58] When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. [59] I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”
Jesus has been preparing His disciples for His departure during their final meal together in the upper room. He has promised them that the Father will send another Helper, the Holy Spirit, who will dwell with them and teach them. Jesus explains that this Spirit will enable them to keep His commandments and experience His love. He has distinguished between the peace He offers and the temporary peace the world provides, urging them not to be troubled by His imminent departure. Throughout this discourse, Jesus emphasizes the intimate relationship between Himself, the Father, and those who love and obey Him, assuring them they will not be left as orphans. Jesus is addressing His eleven remaining disciples.
[25] “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. [26] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. [27] Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. [28] You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
[29] “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. [30] I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. [31] But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Jesus continues His final discourse with His disciples in the upper room on the night before His crucifixion. He has just warned them about the world's hatred they will face and reminded them of their calling to bear witness to Him. Jesus has explained the relationship between Himself, the Father, and His followers, emphasizing the importance of remaining in His love and keeping His commandments. He has prepared them for persecution, explaining that the world hated Him first and will therefore hate them as well. Throughout this discourse, Jesus seeks to strengthen and prepare His disciples for the difficult times ahead after His departure. Jesus is addressing His eleven remaining disciples in the upper room.
[26] “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. [27] And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
[1] “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. [2] They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. [3] And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. [4] But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
[5] “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ [6] But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. [7] Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. [8] And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] of sin, because they do not believe in Me; [10] of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; [11] of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
[12] “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. [14] He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
Jesus has been preparing His disciples for His departure during their final meal together in the upper room. He has just explained that the Holy Spirit will come to convict the world and guide the disciples into all truth, glorifying Christ by revealing what belongs to Him. Jesus told them that the Spirit would speak only what He hears from the Father and would declare things to come. He emphasized that everything the Father has belongs to Him, which is why He said the Spirit would take from what is His and make it known to the disciples. Jesus is addressing His twelve disciples, minus Judas Iscariot who has already left to betray Him.
[16] “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
[17] Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” [18] They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
[19] Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? [20] Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. [21] A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. [22] Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
[23] “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. [24] Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
[25] “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. [26] In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; [27] for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. [28] I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
[29] His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! [30] Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
[31] Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? [32] Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
Jesus has been preparing His disciples for His imminent departure, warning them about coming persecution and the world's hatred they will face. He has explained that the Holy Spirit will come to guide them, convict the world, and glorify Him. Jesus acknowledges their current sorrow but promises that their grief will transform into joy, comparing it to a woman's pain in childbirth that gives way to gladness. He assures them that though they will be scattered and He will face His hour alone, they can take courage because He has overcome the world. After offering these final words of comfort and warning in the upper room, Jesus transitions from instructing His disciples to praying directly to the Father, lifting His eyes toward heaven. Jesus is addressing His disciples in the upper room before His arrest.
[33] These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
[1] Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, [2] as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. [3] And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. [4] I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. [5] And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
[6] “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. [7] Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. [8] For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
[9] “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. [10] And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. [11] Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. [12] While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Jesus has been praying to the Father during the Last Supper discourse with his disciples in the upper room. He began this prayer by asking the Father to glorify him and spoke about the disciples he is leaving behind in the world. He prayed for their protection, asking that they be kept in the Father's name and sanctified in truth. He acknowledged that the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as he does not belong to the world. Now he continues interceding for them, requesting their protection from evil while they remain in the world to carry out their mission. Jesus is addressing the Father in prayer while the disciples listen.
[13] But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. [14] I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [15] I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. [18] As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. [19] And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
[20] “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; [21] that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. [22] And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: [23] I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
[24] “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. [26] And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.