THE history of St. John as well as of the other apostles, is involved in much obscurity. We know however, he was the son of Zebedee, and the brother of James the Greater, or Elder, and that he was by occupation a fisherman of Bethsaida in Galilee. It was James and John, whom Jesus, for their zeal and fidelity in his service, distinguished with the name of Boanerges, or sons of thunder. John was one of the three, whom Jesus admitted to be witnesses of the resurrection of Jairus' daughter, of his transfiguration on the mount, and of his agony in the garden; and he was honoured among the apostles by being the one, whom Jesus loved. John alone of all the apostles, had the courage to follow Jesus to the cross and see him expire. Soon after the death of Jesus, we find John with eight other of the apostles returning to their former occupation on the sea of Tiberias; but this was soon left for the more glorious work, to which they were appointed. Hence John became a preacher of the Gospel, and a pillar of the church in Judea; and it is supposed he continued here till the time approached for the predicted destruction of Jerusalem, and that he then went into Asia Minor, and resided some years at Ephesus. It is proba ble he continued here some time and preached the Gospel, and, as he in the Revelation expresses it, was for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus, banished thence to the island of Patmos, in the Archipelago sea, which probably happened in the persecution under the Roman emperor Domitian; that f The promise of my Father, The Holy Spirit. Divinity, humanity, and Chap. i. office of Jesus Christ. after the death of that emperor he returned to Asia Minor; that he lived till he was nearly a hundred years of age, having survived all the other apostles, and then died a natural death, at Ephesus, in the reign of the emperor Trajan, being the only apostle who escaped martyrdom. The precise time, when John wrote his Gospel, is not ascertained; but it is thought most probable he wrote it after his return from exile near the close of the first century, at the request of the churches in Asia Minor, where he resided in the latter part of his life. The particular objects, for which his Gospel was written, were probably to supply what had not been fully communicated in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and also to refute the errors of Cerinthus and the Gnosties, who taught many extravagant notions concerning God and Jesus Christ. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. CHAP. I. 1 The divinity, humanity, and office of Jesus Christ. 15 The testimony of John. 39 The calling of Andrew, Peter, &c. In the beginning was the the beginning was the with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him 4 In him was life; and a And the light, &c. And the Messiah appeared in this dark and sinful world, and the world, by sin and prejudice, would not understand, that he was the Messiah. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light,b that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the b Light, our Saviour. S. John. John's testimony flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.c 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not, but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias ? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that Of his fulness have we all received fulness, even grace for his grace. of Christ. sent us; what sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am d the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, e as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent, were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water; but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not. 27 He it is, who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man, which is preferred before me; for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the spirit de d I am one whose voice crieth. e Lord, in the Old Testament Je bowah. scending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he, which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record, that this is the Son of God. 35 ¶ Again, the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (Which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou ? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day; for it was about the tenth hour.f 40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Mes 2000. Simon called. sias, which is, being interpreted, The Christ.g 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas,h which is, by interpretation, A stone. 43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew_and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered, and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered, and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered, and said unto him, Because I said unto g Christ and Messiah both mean b Cephas or Peter, means rock. Tenth hour, four o'clock, after- anointed. Christ turns water to wine: S. John. thee, I saw thee under the figtree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. CHAP. II. 1 Christ turneth water into wine, 12 departeth into Capernaum and Jerusalem, 14 and purgeth the temple. AND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 And both Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And. they bare it. he purgeth the temple. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. 12 T After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples; and they continued there not many days. 13 And the Jews' passover was at hand; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and the changers of money, sitting: 15 And, when he had made & scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise, 17 And his disciples remembered that it was writ |