1:35 Again the next day John 1 was standing there 2 with two of his disciples.
6:16 Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 13
6:66 After this many of his disciples quit following him 14 and did not accompany him 15 any longer.
9:28 They 16 heaped insults 17 on him, saying, 18 “You are his disciple! 19 We are disciples of Moses!
16:29 His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly 23 and not in obscure figures of speech! 24
18:19 While this was happening, 25 the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 26
1 sn John refers to John the Baptist.
2 tn “There” is not in the Greek text but is implied by current English idiom.
3 tn Grk “his”; the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Grk “And the two disciples heard him speaking.”
5 sn The expression followed Jesus pictures discipleship, which means that to learn from Jesus is to follow him as the guiding priority of one’s life.
6 sn There is no clue to the identity of the bride and groom, but in all probability either relatives or friends of Jesus’ family were involved, since Jesus’ mother and both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the celebration. The attitude of Mary in approaching Jesus and asking him to do something when the wine ran out also suggests that familial obligations were involved.
7 tn Or “Fervent devotion to your house.”
8 sn A quotation from Ps 69:9.
9 tn Grk “buy food.”
10 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author, indicating why Jesus asked the woman for a drink (for presumably his disciples also took the water bucket with them).
11 sn Up on the mountainside does not necessarily refer to a particular mountain or hillside, but may simply mean “the hill country” or “the high ground,” referring to the high country east of the Sea of Galilee (known today as the Golan Heights).
12 tn Grk “one of his disciples.”
13 tn Or “sea.” The Greek word indicates a rather large body of water, but the English word “sea” normally indicates very large bodies of water, so the word “lake” in English is a closer approximation.
14 tn Grk “many of his disciples went back to what lay behind.”
15 tn Grk “were not walking with him.”
16 tn Grk “And they.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
17 tn The Greek word means “to insult strongly” or “slander.”
18 tn Grk “and said.”
19 tn Grk “You are that one’s disciple.”
20 sn The village of Bethany, where Lazarus was, lies in Judea, less than 2 mi (3 km) from Jerusalem (see 11:18).
21 tn Grk “Then the disciples said to him.”
22 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
23 tn Or “openly.”
24 tn Or “not in parables.” or “not in metaphors.”
sn How is the disciples’ reply to Jesus now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech to be understood? Their claim to understand seems a bit impulsive. It is difficult to believe that the disciples have really understood the full implications of Jesus’ words, although it is true that he spoke to them plainly and not figuratively in 16:26-28. The disciples will not fully understand all that Jesus has said to them until after his resurrection, when the Holy Spirit will give them insight and understanding (16:13).
25 tn The introductory phrase “While this was happening” is not in the Greek text. It has been supplied in the translation to clarify the alternation of scenes in the narrative for the modern reader.
26 sn The nature of this hearing seems to be more that of a preliminary investigation; certainly normal legal procedure was not followed, for no indication is given that any witnesses were brought forth at this point to testify against Jesus. True to what is known of Annas’ character, he was more interested in Jesus’ disciples than in the precise nature of Jesus’ teaching, since he inquired about the followers first. He really wanted to know just how influential Jesus had become and how large a following he had gathered. This was of more concern to Annas that the truth or falsity of Jesus’ teaching.