Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.
- BSB While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name.
- NKJV Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.
- NASB Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name as they observed His signs which He was doing.
- NLT Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.
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
During the Passover feast many in Jerusalem 'believed' when they saw Jesus' miraculous signs. It introduces a shallow, sign-driven belief that Jesus himself does not fully trust.
Overview
This crowd-level belief rested on the spectacle of miracles rather than on grasping who Jesus is. John deliberately sets it up to be qualified by the next verses and contrasted with Nicodemus, who comes seeking more. It warns that being impressed by Jesus is not the same as the saving, self-committing faith the gospel calls for.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- John 7:31And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
- John 6:14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
- Luke 8:13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
- Eph 3:16–17That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
- Mark 4:16–17And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
- John 3:2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
- John 8:30–31As he spake these words, many believed on him.
- John 2:13And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
- Gal 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- Matt 13:20–21But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
- Jas 2:19–20Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
- John 12:42–43Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
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 2:23 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.