But 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?”
Parallel translations
- KJV And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
- BSB Many in the crowd, however, believed in Him and said, “When the Christ comes, will He perform more signs than this man?”
- NKJV And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”
- NASB But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has done, will He?”
- NLT Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”
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
Many in the crowd believed in Jesus, reasoning that the Christ could not do more signs than He had done. His miracles drew genuine, if imperfect, faith.
Overview
Jesus' signs led many to conclude He was the Messiah, since they expected the Christ to perform such works. Their faith, though based largely on the miracles, was a real response to the evidence God provided. John presents Jesus' signs as pointers to His identity, inviting deeper belief in Him as the Son of God who gives life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- John 12:42Nevertheless 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,
- Matt 12:23All the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?”
- John 10:41–42Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.”
- Acts 8:13Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
- John 9:16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them.
- Jas 2:26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
- John 8:30–32As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
- John 11:45Therefore many of the Jews, who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed in him.
- Matt 11:3–6and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?”
- John 2:23–24Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.
- John 6:2A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.
- 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.
- 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 2:11This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
- John 12:11because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
- John 6:14–15When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.”
- John 4:39From 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.”
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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 7:31 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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