Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

John 18:8

"I told you that I am he," Jesus said. "So if you are looking for me, let the others go."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Prisoners;   Prophecy;   Traitor;   Thompson Chain Reference - Defender of the Weak;   Weak;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gethsemane;   Judas;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Gethsemane;   I Am;   John, the Gospel of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Arrest ;   Gethsemane ;   Judas Iscariot (2);   Mount of Olives ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Officer;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“I told you I am he,”
King James Version (1611)
Iesus answered, I haue tolde you that I am he: If therefore ye seeke me, let these goe their way:
King James Version
Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
English Standard Version
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go."
New American Standard Bible
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you are seeking Me, let these men go on their way."
Amplified Bible
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you want Me, let these men go on their way."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
Legacy Standard Bible
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
Berean Standard Bible
"I told you that I am He," Jesus replied. "So if you are looking for Me, let these men go."
Contemporary English Version
This time Jesus replied, "I have already told you that I am Jesus. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go.
Complete Jewish Bible
"I told you, ‘I AM,'" answered Yeshua, "so if I'm the one you want, let these others go."
Darby Translation
Jesus answered, I told you that I am [he]: if therefore ye seek me, let these go away;
Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus said, "I told you that I am Jesus. So if you are looking for me, let these other men go free."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Iesus answered, I said vnto you, that I am he: therefore if ye seeke me, let these go their way.
George Lamsa Translation
Jesus said to them, I have told you that I am he; if then you want me, let these men go away;
Good News Translation
"I have already told you that I am he," Jesus said. "If, then, you are looking for me, let these others go."
Lexham English Bible
Jesus replied, "I said to you that I am he! So if you are looking for me, let these men go,"
Literal Translation
Jesus answered, I told you that I AM; then if you seek Me, allow these to depart,
American Standard Version
Jesus answered, I told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Bible in Basic English
Jesus made answer, I have said that I am he; if you are looking for me, let these men go away.
Hebrew Names Version
Yeshua answered, "I told you that I AM. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,"
International Standard Version
Jesus replied, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go."
Etheridge Translation
Jeshu saith to them, I have told you that I am; and if me you seek, let these go.
Murdock Translation
Jesus said to them: I have told you that I am he; and if ye seek me, let these go away:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Iesus aunswered, I haue tolde you that I am he: Yf ye seke me therefore, let these go their way.
English Revised Version
Jesus answered, I told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
World English Bible
Jesus answered, "I told you that I AM. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,"
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Jesus answered, I have told you, I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go:
Weymouth's New Testament
"I have told you," replied Jesus, "that I am he. If therefore you are looking for me, let these my disciples go their way."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He answeride to hem, Y seide to you, that Y am; therfor if ye seken me, suffre ye these to go awei.
Update Bible Version
Jesus answered, I told you that I am [he]; if therefore you seek me, let these go their way:
Webster's Bible Translation
Jesus answered, I have told you that I am [he]: If therefore ye seek me, let these go away:
New English Translation
Jesus replied, "I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go."
New King James Version
Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
New Living Translation
"I told you that I am he," Jesus said. "And since I am the one you want, let these others go."
New Life Bible
He said, "I have told you that I am Jesus. If you are looking for Me, let these men go their way."
New Revised Standard
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Jesus answered - I told you, I, am he. If, then, ye seek me, let these go their way: -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Jesus answered: I have told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,
Revised Standard Version
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Iesus answered I sayde vnto you I am he. If ye seke me let these goo their waye.
Young's Literal Translation
Jesus answered, `I said to you that I am [he]; if, then, me ye seek, suffer these to go away;'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Iesus answered: I haue tolde you, that I am he. Yf ye seke me, then let these go their waye.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he. "if therefore it is me you look for, let these go their way."
THE MESSAGE
"I told you," said Jesus, "that's me. I'm the one. So if it's me you're after, let these others go." (This validated the words in his prayer, "I didn't lose one of those you gave.")
Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus said, "I already told you that I AM he. I've asked you twice who you are looking for. You are looking for one man. Let the rest of these cowboys go."

Contextual Overview

1 When Jesus finished praying, he went with his followers across the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and Jesus and his followers went into it. 2 Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his followers. Judas was the one who turned against Jesus. 3 So Judas came there with a group of soldiers and some guards from the leading priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons. 4 Knowing everything that would happen to him, Jesus went out and asked, "Who is it you are looking for?" 5 They answered, "Jesus from Nazareth." "I am he," Jesus said. (Judas, the one who turned against Jesus, was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, "I am he," they moved back and fell to the ground. 7 Jesus asked them again, "Who is it you are looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 "I told you that I am he," Jesus said. "So if you are looking for me, let the others go." 9 This happened so that the words Jesus said before would come true: "I have not lost any of the ones you gave me." 10 Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: Isaiah 53:6, Ephesians 5:25

let: John 10:28, John 13:1, John 13:36, John 16:32, Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50-52, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Peter 5:7

Reciprocal: Zechariah 13:7 - I will turn Luke 22:51 - Suffer John 18:17 - I am not

Cross-References

Genesis 19:3
But Lot begged them to come, so they agreed and went to his house. Then Lot prepared a meal for them. He baked bread without yeast, and they ate it.
Deuteronomy 32:14
There were milk curds from the cows and milk from the flock; there were fat sheep and goats. There were sheep and goats from Bashan and the best of the wheat. You drank the juice of grapes.
Judges 5:25
Sisera asked for water, but Jael gave him milk. In a bowl fit for a ruler, she brought him cream.
Judges 13:15
Manoah said to the angel of the Lord , "We would like you to stay awhile so we can cook a young goat for you."
Nehemiah 12:44
At that time the leaders appointed men to be in charge of the storerooms. These rooms were for the gifts, the firstfruits, and the ten percent that the people brought. The Teachings said they should bring a share for the priests and Levites from the fields around the towns. The people of Judah were happy to do this for the priests and Levites who served.
Luke 12:37
They will be blessed when their master comes home, because he sees that they were watching for him. I tell you the truth, the master will dress himself to serve and tell the servants to sit at the table, and he will serve them.
Luke 17:8
No, you would say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Then get yourself ready and serve me. After I finish eating and drinking, you can eat.'
Luke 24:30
When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them.
Luke 24:43
While the followers watched, Jesus took the fish and ate it.
John 12:2
There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he,.... This he said, upbraiding them with their stupidity; signifying he was ready to deliver himself up into their hands; and which he did with intrepidity and calmness, only on this condition, with this proviso for his disciples;

if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: Christ was about to suffer for them, and therefore it was not just that they should suffer too; nor was it proper that they should suffer with him, lest their sufferings should be thought to be a part of the price of redemption. Besides, their suffering time was not come, and they had other work to do: this shows the love of Christ to his disciples, and his care of them, and also his power, and that he could have saved himself as well as them. Moreover, these words may be considered as an emblem and pledge of the acquittance and discharge of God's elect, through the suretyship engagements, and performances of Christ, who drew near to God on their account, substituted himself in their room, and undertook for them in the council and covenant of peace, and laid himself under obligation to pay their debts, to satisfy for their sins, to bring in an everlasting righteousness, to keep and preserve them in this world, and to make them happy in another. Accordingly, in the fulness of time he was made under the law, and stood in their place and stead, and was taken, suffered, died, and rose again. Now, as there was a discharge and acquittance of them from eternity, a non-imputation of sin to them, and a secret letting of them go upon the suretyship engagements of Christ, and in virtue thereof, a passing by, and over, the sins of the Old Testament saints so there was an open acquittance and discharge of them all upon the apprehension, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ; complete deliverance from wrath and condemnation being obtained, and a full title to eternal glory made. Moreover, these words may be considered not only and merely as spoken to the Jews, but as addressed to the law and justice of God; or however, as having some respect to them, while directed to the others; for justice finding the sins of all the elect upon Christ, on whom the Father had laid them, and Christ had took them upon himself, was seeking for, and about to demand satisfaction of him for them; and he being under the law, and coming into the world to fulfil it, in the room and stead of his people, was about to bear the curse of it; wherefore seeing this was the case, he insists upon it, that they who were convicted of the law as transgressors, and held under it as condemned criminals and malefactors, and who were liable, as considered in themselves, to be seized upon by the justice of God, and to have the sentence of condemnation and death executed upon them, might be discharged and let go; and accordingly, upon the satisfaction made by Christ, this is the case: Christ's people are no longer under the law, as a ministration of condemnation and death, nor liable to suffer the vindictive wrath of God; they are become free from the curses of a righteous law, and are let go by divine justice, and will never suffer the strokes of it, neither in this world nor in that to come; there is no demand to be made upon them, either by the law or justice of God; there is no wrath or punishment will be inflicted on them, either here or hereafter; and they may, and shall go their way into everlasting life, when time shall be no more with them, neither law nor justice having anything to say to the contrary.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let these go their way - These apostles. This shows his care and love even in the hour of danger. He expected to die. They were to carry the news of his death to the ends of the earth. Hence he, the faithful Captain of salvation, went foremost into trials; he, the Good Shepherd, secured the safety of the flock, and went before them into danger. By the question which he asked those who came out against him, he had secured the safety of his apostles. He was answered that they sought for him. He demanded that, agreeably to their declaration, they should take him only, and leave his followers at liberty. The wisdom, caution, and prudence of Jesus forsook him in no peril, however sudden, and in no circumstances, however difficult or trying.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 18:8. Let these go their way — These words are rather words of authority, than words of entreaty. I voluntarily give myself up to you, but you must not molest one of these my disciples. At your peril injure them. Let them go about their business. I have already given you a sufficient proof of my power: I will not exert it in my own behalf, for I will lay down my life for the sheep; but I will not permit you to injure the least of these. It was certainly the supreme power of Christ that kept the soldiers and the mob from destroying all the disciples present, when Peter had given them such provocation, in cutting off the ear of Malchus. There were probably no other disciples with Christ than Peter, James, and John, at this time. see Matthew 26:37; Mark 13:33.


 
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