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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- BSB While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name.
- 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 7:31But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?”
- John 6:14When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.”
- Luke 8:13Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.
- Eph 3:16–17that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
- Mark 4:16–17These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.
- John 3:2The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
- John 8:30–31As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
- John 2:13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
- Gal 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
- Matt 13:20–21What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;
- Jas 2:19–20You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.
- John 12:42–43Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue,
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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 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
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