Discovery BoxJohn 14:11-12 
Context14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, 1 believe because of the miraculous deeds 2 themselves. 14:12 I tell you the solemn truth, 3 the person who believes in me will perform 4 the miraculous deeds 5 that I am doing, 6 and will perform 7 greater deeds 8 than these, because I am going to the Father.
1 tn The phrase “but if you do not believe me” contains an ellipsis; the Greek text reads Grk “but if not.” The ellipsis has been filled out (“but if [you do] not [believe me]…”) for the benefit of the modern English reader.
2 tn Grk “because of the works.”
sn In the context of a proof or basis for belief, Jesus is referring to the miraculous deeds (signs) he has performed in the presence of the disciples.
3 tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
4 tn Or “will do.”
5 tn Grk “the works.”
6 tn Or “that I do.”
sn See the note on miraculous deeds in v. 11.
7 tn Or “will do.”
8 tn Grk “greater works.”
sn What are the greater deeds that Jesus speaks of, and how is this related to his going to the Father? It is clear from both John 7:39 and 16:7 that the Holy Spirit will not come until Jesus has departed. After Pentecost and the coming of the Spirit to indwell believers in a permanent relationship, believers would be empowered to perform even greater deeds than those Jesus did during his earthly ministry. When the early chapters of Acts are examined, it is clear that, from a numerical standpoint, the deeds of Peter and the other Apostles surpassed those of Jesus in a single day (the day of Pentecost). On that day more were added to the church than had become followers of Jesus during the entire three years of his earthly ministry. And the message went forth not just in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, but to the farthest parts of the known world. This understanding of what Jesus meant by “greater deeds” is more probable than a reference to “more spectacular miracles.” Certainly miraculous deeds were performed by the apostles as recounted in Acts, but these do not appear to have surpassed the works of Jesus himself in either degree or number.
