But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
Parallel translations
- WEB But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
- KJV But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. However, I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
- NLT Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.
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
Jesus tells them these things so they will remember His warning when the time comes; He did not say them earlier because He was with them. His presence had shielded them.
Overview
Jesus explains the timing of His warnings: now that He is departing, the disciples need to be prepared for the opposition He had previously borne in their place. When persecution arrives, recalling His words will steady their faith. This transition turns the discourse toward His going to the Father and the coming of the Spirit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- John 14:29And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.
- Mark 13:23So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.
- John 17:12–13While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
- John 13:19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.
- Matt 9:15Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
- Matt 24:25See, I have told you in advance.
- Acts 9:16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
- Mark 2:19Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.
- Matt 10:7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
- Isa 41:22–23“Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.
- 2 Pet 1:14because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
- Luke 21:12–13But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
- Acts 20:23–24I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.
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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 16:4 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.