The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
- KJV And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
- BSB And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
- ESV The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
- NASB And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
- NLT When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Hearing John's testimony, the two disciples left him and followed Jesus. Faithful witness leads people to Christ.
Overview
John's pointing to the Lamb of God bears immediate fruit as his disciples transfer their allegiance to Jesus. This is the very outcome a true witness desires. The verse marks the beginning of Jesus' band of followers and illustrates how the gospel, faithfully proclaimed, draws people to the Savior.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Rom 10:17So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
- Rev 22:17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
- John 1:43On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
- Zech 8:21and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of Armies. I will go also.’
- John 4:39–42From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I did.”
- Eph 4:29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- Prov 15:23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Pastoral
Henry on the prologue — rich on the Word and the incarnation.
Seminary
- ★ Start hereCommentaryThe Gospel According to John (Pillar NT Commentary)D. A. Carson · ~720 pp · Paid · reformed
The go-to mid-level exegetical commentary on John — rigorous and readable.
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 1:37 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.