John 5:1

The Healing at Bethesda

1 After these things there was ¹a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

John 5:1 Meaning and Commentary

John 5:1

After this there was a feast of the Jews
After Christ had been in Samaria, which was four months ago, ( John 4:35 ) , and had been in Galilee for that time, and had cured the nobleman's son, and had done other mighty works, the time came on for one of the three festivals of the Jews; either the feast of Pentecost, as some think; or as others, the feast of tabernacles; or rather, the feast of the passover, so called, in ( John 4:45 ) since John is very particular, in giving an account of the several passovers, in Christ's ministry:

and Jesus went up to Jerusalem;
according to the law of God, which obliged all the males to appear there at that time; and to show his compliance with it, and obedience to it, whom it became to fulfil all righteousness; and this he did also, that he might have an opportunity of discoursing, and doing his miracles before all the people, which came at this time, from the several parts of the land.

John 5:1 In-Context

1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes.

3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters;

4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.]

5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 16:1; John 2:13