(Now the Jewish feast of the Passover ¹  was near.) ² 

Now the Jewish feast of Tabernacles ¹  was near. ² 

Now the Jewish feast of Passover ¹  was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² 

After this ¹  there was a Jewish feast, ²  and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ³ 

Now because Jesus was doing these things ¹  on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders ²  began persecuting ³  him.

So the Jewish leaders ¹  were looking for him at the feast, asking, “Where is he?” ² 

However, no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jewish leaders. ¹ 

Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people ¹  because of these words.

The Jewish leaders ¹  picked up rocks again to stone him to death.

(Now seven sons of a man named ¹  Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.) ² 

For there are many ¹  rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, ² 

and not pay attention to Jewish myths ¹  and commands of people who reject the truth.

Then the Jewish leaders ¹  said to one another, “Where is he ²  going to go that we cannot find him? ³  He is not going to go to the Jewish people dispersed ⁴  among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he? ⁵ 

(His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jewish religious leaders. ¹  For the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus ²  to be the Christ ³  would be put out ⁴  of the synagogue. ⁵ 

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, ¹  each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ² 

So then the Jewish leaders ¹  responded, ²  “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?” ³ 

Now a certain man, a Pharisee ¹  named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, ² 

The man went away and informed the Jewish leaders ¹  that Jesus was the one who had made him well.

After this ¹  Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. ²  He ³  stayed out of Judea ⁴  because the Jewish leaders ⁵  wanted ⁶  to kill him.

and not for the Jewish nation ¹  only, ²  but to gather together ³  into one the children of God who are scattered.) ⁴