יוחנן 14:12

Delitzsche Hebrew New Testament

אָמֵן אָמֵן אֲנִי אֹמֵר לָכֶם הַמַּאֲמִין בִּי יַעֲשֶׂה גַם־הוּא אֶת־הַמַּעֲשִׂים אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי עֹשֶׂה וּגְדֹלוֹת מֵאֵלֶּה יַעֲשֶׂה אֶל־אָבִי׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Modern Translation
אמן אמן אני אמר לכם המאמין בי יעשה גם הוא את המעשים אשר אנכי עשה וגדלות מאלה יעשה כי אני הולך אל אבי׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the: Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:13, Mark 16:17, Luke 10:17-19, Acts 3:6-8, Acts 4:9-12, Acts 4:16, Acts 4:33, Acts 8:7, Acts 9:34, Acts 9:40, Acts 16:18, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:11

greater: Acts 2:4-11, Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4, Acts 5:15, Acts 6:7, Acts 10:46, Acts 19:12, Romans 15:19

because: John 14:28, John 7:39, John 16:7, Acts 2:33

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 2:9 - Elisha said 2 Kings 2:14 - smote 2 Kings 20:10 - General Matthew 5:18 - verily Matthew 11:5 - blind Luke 9:1 - gave John 1:51 - Verily Acts 1:15 - an Acts 2:43 - many Acts 3:16 - through Acts 4:31 - spake Acts 5:16 - bringing Acts 14:10 - Stand Acts 19:11 - General

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me,.... Having mentioned his miracles as proofs of his deity, he assures his disciples, in order to comfort them under the loss of his bodily presence, that they should do the same, and greater works; for we are not to understand these words of everyone that believes in Christ, of every private believer in him, but only of the apostles, and each of them, that were true believers in him: to whom he says,

the works that I do shall he do also; he shall raise the dead, heal all manner of diseases, and cast out devils; things which Christ gave his apostles power to do, when he first gave them a commission to preach the Gospel, and when he renewed and enlarged it: and which they did perform, not in their own name, and by their own power, but in the name, and by the power of Christ:

and greater works than these shall he do; meaning, not greater in nature and kind, but more in number; for the apostles, in a long series of time, and course of years, went about preaching the Gospel, not in Judea only, but in all the world; "God also bearing them witness with signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost", Hebrews 2:4, wherever they went: though perhaps by these greater works may be meant the many instances of conversion, which the apostles were instrumental in, and which were more in number than those which were under our Lord's personal ministry: besides, the conversion of a sinner is a greater work than any of the miracles of raising the dead, c. for this includes in it all miracles: here we may see a sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, quickened one born blind made to see; one who was deaf to the threatenings of the law, and to the charming voice of the Gospel, made to hear, so as to live; and one that had the spreading leprosy of sin all over him, cleansed from it by the blood of the Lamb yea, though a miracle in nature is an instance and proof of divine power, yet the conversion of a sinner, which is a miracle in grace, is not only an instance of the power of God, and of the greatness of it, but of the exceeding greatness of it: and the rather one may be induced to give in to this sense of the passage, since it is added, as a reason,

because I go to my Father; and upon my ascension the Spirit will be given, to you, which shall not only enable you to perform miracles, as proofs of your apostleship, and the doctrine you preach, but which shall powerfully attend the Gospel to the conversion of multitudes of souls.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He that believeth on me - This promise had doubtless special reference to the apostles themselves. They were full of grief at his departure, and Jesus, in order to console them, directed them to the great honor which was to be conferred on them, and to the assurance that God would not leave them, but would attend them in their ministry with the demonstrations of his mighty power. It cannot be understood of all his followers, for the circumstances of the promise do not require us to understand it thus, and it has not been a matter of fact that All Christians have possessed power to do greater works than the Lord Jesus. It is a general promise that greater works than he performed should be done by his followers, without specifying that all his followers would be instrumental in doing them.

The works that I do - The miracles of healing the sick, raising the dead, etc. This was done by the apostles in many instances. See Acts 5:15; Acts 19:12; Acts 13:11; Acts 5:1-10.

Greater works than these shall he do - Interpreters have been at a loss in what way to understand this. The most probable meaning of the passage is the following: The word “greater” cannot refer to the miracles themselves, for the works of the apostles did not exceed those of Jesus in power. No higher exertion of power was put forth, or could be, than raising the dead. But, though not greater in themselves considered, yet they were greater in their effects. They made a deeper impression on mankind. They were attended with more extensive results. They were the means of the conversion of more sinners. The works of Jesus were confined to Judea. They were seen by few. The works of the apostles were witnessed by many nations, and the effect of their miracles and preaching was that thousands from among the Jews and Gentiles were converted to the Christian faith. The word “greater” here is used, therefore, not to denote the absolute exertion of power, but the effect which the miracles would have on mankind. The word “works” here probably denotes not merely miracles, but all things that the apostles did that made an impression on mankind, including their travels, their labors, their doctrine, etc.

Because I go unto my Father - He would there intercede for them, and especially by his going to the Father the Holy Spirit would he sent down to attend them in their ministry, John 14:26, John 14:28; John 16:7-14. See Matthew 28:18. By his going to the Father is particularly denoted his exaltation to heaven, and his being placed as head over all things to his church, Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11. By his being exalted there the Holy Spirit was given John 16:7, and by his power thus put forth the Gentiles were brought to hear and obey the gospel.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 14:12. And greater works than these — The miracles which I have wrought could not have been wrought but by the omnipotence of God; but that omnipotence can work greater. And those who believe on my name shall, through my almighty power, be enabled to work greater miracles than those which l have ordinarily wrought. An impostor might seduce the people by false miracles; but he could not make his power and cunning pass to all those who were seduced by him: but I will give you this proof of the divinity of my mission and the truth of my doctrine.

Perhaps the greater works refer to the immense multitudes that were brought to God by the ministry of the apostles. By the apostles was the doctrine of Christ spread far and wide; while Christ confined his ministry chiefly to the precincts of Judea. It is certainly the greatest miracle of Divine grace to convert the obstinate, wicked heart of man from sin to holiness. This was done in numberless cases by the disciples, who were endued with power from on high, while proclaiming remission of sins through faith in his blood.

Some account for the greater works thus:

1. The very shadow of Peter healed the diseased, Acts 5:15.

2. Diseases were cured, and demons cast out, by applying to the persons handkerchiefs and aprons that had before touched the body of Paul, Acts 19:12.

3. By the word of Peter, Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead, Acts 5:5; Acts 5:9-10.

4. Elymas the sorcerer was struck blind by the word of Paul, Acts 13:11.

5. Christ only preached in Judea, and in the language only of that country; but the apostles preached through the most of the then known world, and in all the languages of all countries. But let it be remarked that all this was done by the power of Christ; and I think it still more natural to attribute the greater works to the greater number of conversions made under the apostles' ministry. The reason which our Lord gives for this is worthy of deep attention:-

Because I go unto my Father. — Where I shall be an Intercessor for you, that:-