Discovery BoxJohn 1:42 
Context1:42 Andrew brought Simon 1 to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. 2 You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). 3
John 1:48
Context1:48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, 4 “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, 5 I saw you.”
John 4:5
Context4:5 Now he came to a Samaritan town 6 called Sychar, 7 near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 8
John 4:25
Context4:25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ); 9 “whenever he 10 comes, he will tell 11 us everything.” 12
John 11:28
Context11:28 And when she had said this, Martha 13 went and called her sister Mary, saying privately, 14 “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” 15
John 11:47
Context11:47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees 16 called the council 17 together and said, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many miraculous signs.
John 12:17
Context12:17 So the crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify about it. 18
John 19:13
Context19:13 When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat 19 in the place called “The Stone Pavement” 20 (Gabbatha in 21 Aramaic). 22
John 21:2
Context21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas 23 (called Didymus), 24 Nathanael 25 (who was from Cana 26 in Galilee), the sons 27 of Zebedee, 28 and two other disciples 29 of his were together.
1 tn Grk “He brought him”; both referents (Andrew, Simon) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tc The reading “Simon, son of John” is well attested in Ì66,75,106 א B* L 33 pc it co. The majority of
3 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. The change of name from Simon to Cephas is indicative of the future role he will play. Only John among the gospel writers gives the Greek transliteration (Κηφᾶς, Khfas) of Simon’s new name, Qéphâ (which is Galilean Aramaic). Neither Πέτρος (Petros) in Greek nor Qéphâ in Aramaic is a normal proper name; it is more like a nickname.
4 tn Grk “answered and said to him.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation to “replied.”
5 sn Many have speculated about what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree. Meditating on the Messiah who was to come? A good possibility, since the fig tree was used as shade for teaching or studying by the later rabbis (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 5:11). Also, the fig tree was symbolic for messianic peace and plenty (Mic 4:4, Zech 3:10.)
6 tn Grk “town of Samaria.” The noun Σαμαρείας (Samareias) has been translated as an attributive genitive.
7 sn Sychar was somewhere in the vicinity of Shechem, possibly the village of Askar, 1.5 km northeast of Jacob’s well.
8 sn Perhaps referred to in Gen 48:22.
9 tn Both Greek “Christ” and Hebrew and Aramaic “Messiah” mean “the one who has been anointed.”
sn The one called Christ. This is a parenthetical statement by the author. See the note on Christ in 1:20.
10 tn Grk “that one.”
11 tn Or “he will announce to us.”
12 tn Grk “all things.”
13 tn Grk “she”; the referent (Martha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 tn Or “in secret” (as opposed to publicly, so that the other mourners did not hear).
15 tn Grk “is calling you.”
16 tn The phrase “chief priests and Pharisees” is a comprehensive name for the groups represented in the ruling council (the Sanhedrin) as in John 7:45; 18:3; Acts 5:22, 26.
17 tn Or “Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews). The συνέδριον (sunedrion) which they gathered was probably an informal meeting rather than the official Sanhedrin. This is the only occurrence of the word συνέδριον in the Gospel of John, and the only anarthrous singular use in the NT. There are other plural anarthrous uses which have the general meaning “councils.” The fact that Caiaphas in 11:49 is referred to as “one of them” supports the unofficial nature of the meeting; in the official Sanhedrin he, being high priest that year, would have presided over the assembly. Thus it appears that an informal council was called to discuss what to do about Jesus and his activities.
18 tn The word “it” is not included in the Greek text. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context.
19 tn Or “the judge’s seat.”
sn The judgment seat (βῆμα, bhma) was a raised platform mounted by steps and usually furnished with a seat. It was used by officials in addressing an assembly or making official pronouncements, often of a judicial nature.
20 sn The precise location of the place called ‘The Stone Pavement’ is still uncertain, although a paved court on the lower level of the Fortress Antonia has been suggested. It is not certain whether it was laid prior to
21 tn Grk “in Hebrew.”
sn The author does not say that Gabbatha is the Aramaic (or Hebrew) translation for the Greek term Λιθόστρωτον (Liqostrwton). He simply points out that in Aramaic (or Hebrew) the place had another name. A number of meanings have been suggested, but the most likely appears to mean “elevated place.” It is possible that this was a term used by the common people for the judgment seat itself, which always stood on a raised platform.
22 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
23 tn Grk “and Thomas.” The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements of a series.
24 sn Didymus means “the twin” in Greek.
25 tn Grk “and Nathanael.” The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements of a series.
26 map For location see Map1 C3; Map2 D2; Map3 C5.
27 tn Grk “and the sons.” The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements of a series.
28 sn The sons of Zebedee were James and John.
29 sn The two other disciples who are not named may have been Andrew and Philip, who are mentioned together in John 6:7-8 and 12:22.
