35The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples. [1:36] Having looked intently at Jesus as he walked, he said: "Behold, the Lamb of God." [1:37] The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. [1:38] Jesus turned and, seeing them following, said to them: "What are you seeking?" They said to him: "Rabbi" — which translated means Teacher — "where are you staying?" [1:39] Jesus said to them: "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day — it was about the tenth hour. [1:40] One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. [1:41] This one first found his own brother Simon and said to him: "We have found the Messiah" — which translated is Christ. [1:42] He brought him to Jesus. Jesus, looking at him, said: "You are Simon, the son of John — you will be called Cephas" — which translated is Peter.
JHN 1:35-42
The First Disciples
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, discipleship was a formal relationship where a student committed to learning the teachings and way of life of a master. John the Baptist’s disciples, already part of a recognized movement centered on repentance and preparation for God’s intervention, would have understood his declaration of Jesus as 'the Lamb of God' in light of Jewish sacrificial imagery and messianic expectations. The phrase 'where are you staying?' reflects the cultural norm of disciples seeking to dwell with their teacher, as learning was deeply relational and communal. The tenth hour (about 4 PM) suggests the disciples stayed overnight, a significant gesture of hospitality and commitment in a culture where such invitations signaled trust and mutual respect. The use of 'Rabbi' (teacher) underscores Jesus’ role as a recognized authority in Jewish tradition, while the disciples’ immediate response to follow reflects the urgency and devotion typical of discipleship in this era.
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How other translations render this
JHN 1:35
- KJV
- Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
- BSB
- The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
- Koinōnos
- The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples.
JHN 1:36
- KJV
- And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
- BSB
- When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
- Koinōnos
- Having looked intently at Jesus as he walked, he said: "Behold, the Lamb of God.
JHN 1:37
- KJV
- And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
- BSB
- And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus.
JHN 1:38
- KJV
- 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?
- BSB
- Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”
- Koinōnos
- Jesus turned and, seeing them following, said to them: "What are you seeking?" They said to him: "Rabbi" — which translated means Teacher — "where are you staying?
JHN 1:39
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- “Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.
- Koinōnos
- Jesus said to them: "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day — it was about the tenth hour.
JHN 1:40
- KJV
- One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
- BSB
- Andrew, Simon Peterʼs brother, was one of the two who heard Johnʼs testimony and followed Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
JHN 1:41
- KJV
- He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
- BSB
- He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).
- Koinōnos
- This one first found his own brother Simon and said to him: "We have found the Messiah" — which translated is Christ.
JHN 1:42
- KJV
- 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, which is by interpretation, A stone.
- BSB
- Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).
- Koinōnos
- He brought him to Jesus. Jesus, looking at him, said: "You are Simon, the son of John — you will be called Cephas" — which translated is Peter.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JHN 1:35
- disciples:The word translated 'disciples' here refers to students or apprentices who followed a teacher closely, not just in learning doctrines but in adopting their way of life.
JHN 1:36
- having looked at:The term used here for 'having looked at' implies a direct, penetrating gaze, suggesting a careful and intentional observation rather than a casual glance.
JHN 1:38
- are You staying?:The word translated 'are You staying?' carries the sense of abiding or remaining, implying a more permanent dwelling or a significant period of residence, not just a brief stop.
JHN 1:42
- and:The word translated 'and' here is actually a verb meaning 'to bring' or 'to lead,' indicating an active role in guiding someone to a destination.