John 13 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Now before the feast of the Passover, it was clear to Jesus that the time had come for him to go away from this world to the Father. Having once had love for those in the world who were his, his love for them went on to the end.
1 Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 So while a meal was going on, the Evil One having now put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to be false to him,
2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
3 Jesus, being conscious that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he came from God and was going to God,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God and was going to God,
4 Got up from table, put off his robe and took a cloth and put it round him.
4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5 Then he put water into a basin and was washing the feet of the disciples and drying them with the cloth which was round him.
5 Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 So he came to Simon Peter. Peter said, Lord, are my feet to be washed by you?
6 Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
7 And Jesus, answering, said to him, What I do is not clear to you now, but it will be clear to you in time to come.
7 Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”
8 Peter said, I will never let my feet be washed by you, never. Jesus said in answer, If I do not make you clean you have no part with me.
8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head.
9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, He who is bathed has need only to have his feet washed and then he is clean all over: and you, my disciples, are clean, but not all of you.
10 Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”
11 (He had knowledge who was false to him; that is why he said, You are not all clean.)
11 For he knew him who would betray him; therefore he said, “You are not all clean.”
12 Then, after washing their feet and putting on his robe again, he took his seat and said to them, Do you see what I have done to you?
12 So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am.
13 You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am.
14 If then I, the Lord and the Master, have made your feet clean, it is right for you to make one another's feet clean.
14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 I have given you an example, so that you may do what I have done to you.
15 For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you.
16 Truly I say to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; and he who is sent is not greater than the one who sent him.
16 Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17 If these things are clear to you, happy are you if you do them.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18 I am not talking of you all: I have knowledge of my true disciples, but things are as they are, so that the Writings may come true, The foot of him who takes bread with me is lifted up against me.
18 I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’
19 From this time forward, I give you knowledge of things before they come about, so that when they come about you may have belief that I am he.
19 From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he.
20 Truly I say to you, He who takes to his heart anyone whom I send, takes me to his heart; and he who so takes me, takes him who sent me.
20 Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”
21 When Jesus had said this he was troubled in spirit, and gave witness, saying, Truly I say to you, that one of you will be false to me.
21 When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
22 Then the eyes of the disciples were turned on one another, in doubt as to whom he had in mind.
22 The disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke.
23 There was at table one of his disciples, the one dear to Jesus, resting his head on Jesus' breast.
23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ chest.
24 Making a sign to him, Simon Peter said, Who is it he is talking about?
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.”
25 He, then, resting his head on Jesus' breast, said to him, Lord, who is it?
25 He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ chest, asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 This was the answer Jesus gave: It is the one to whom I will give this bit of bread after I have put it in the vessel. Then he took the bit of bread, put it into the vessel, and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
26 Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 And when Judas took the bread Satan went into him. Then Jesus said to him, Do quickly what you have to do.
27 After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
28 Now it was not clear to anyone at table why he said this to him.
28 Now nobody at the table knew why he said this to him.
29 Some were of the opinion that because Judas kept the money-bag Jesus said to him, Get the things we have need of for the feast; or, that he was to give something to the poor.
29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
30 So Judas, having taken the bit of bread, straight away went out: and it was night.
30 Therefore having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night.
31 Then when he had gone out, Jesus said, Now is glory given to the Son of man, and God is given glory in him.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.
32 If God is given glory in him, God will give him glory in himself, and will give him glory even now.
32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately.
33 My dear children, I am only to be with you a little longer. Then you will be looking for me: and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you, Where I am going you may not come.
33 Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you.
34 I give you a new law: Have love one for another; even as I have had love for you, so are you to have love one for another.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.
35 By this it will be clear to all men that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus said in answer, Where I am going you may not come with me now, but you will come later.
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.”
37 Peter said to him, Why may I not come with you even now? I will give up my life for you.
37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Jesus said in answer, Will you give up your life for me? Truly I say to you, Before the cry of the cock you will have said three times that you are not my disciple.
38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Simon
Named in John 6:71, 13:2 and 13:26 as the father of Judas Iscariot.
Cited in the guide: John 6:71; John 13:2; John 13:26
Cross references (37)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 John 12:23; 1 John 4:19; John 13:34; John 13:3; John 16:28
- 2 James 1:13–17; Acts 5:3; John 6:70–71; John 13:26–27; Luke 22:31
- 3 John 3:35; Matthew 11:27; Hebrews 1:2; Matthew 28:18; John 17:2
- 4 2 Corinthians 8:9; Luke 22:27; Luke 12:37; Philippians 2:6–8; Luke 17:7
- 5 Luke 7:44; Psalm 51:2; 1 Timothy 5:10; Genesis 18:4; Genesis 19:2
- 6 John 1:27; Matthew 3:11–14; Luke 5:8
- 7 Daniel 12:8; John 12:16; John 14:26; James 5:7–11; John 13:10–12
- 8 Titus 3:5; Ezekiel 36:25; Acts 22:16; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:22
- 9 Psalm 51:2; Psalm 51:7; Psalm 26:6; 1 Peter 3:21; Hebrews 10:22
- 10 John 15:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Numbers 19:19–21; Ephesians 5:26–27
- 11 John 13:26; John 13:18; John 13:21; John 13:2; John 2:25
- 12 John 13:7; John 13:4; Ezekiel 24:24; Ezekiel 24:19; Matthew 13:51
- 13 Luke 6:46; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Philippians 2:11; John 11:28; Romans 14:8–9
- 14 1 Peter 5:5; Acts 20:35; Romans 12:16; Galatians 5:13; Luke 22:26–27
- 15 1 John 2:6; Matthew 11:29; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 3:17–18; Ephesians 5:2
- 16 Luke 6:40; John 15:20; Matthew 10:24–25; John 3:5; John 3:3
- 17 Luke 11:28; James 4:17; James 1:25; Matthew 7:24–25; Ezekiel 36:27
- 18 Psalm 41:9; Matthew 26:23; John 17:12; Mark 14:20; John 13:26
- 19 Isaiah 43:10; John 14:29; Revelation 1:17–18; John 16:4; John 8:23–24
- 20 Luke 10:16; Luke 9:48; Mark 9:37; Matthew 25:40; Matthew 10:40–42
- 21 Matthew 26:21; John 13:18; Mark 14:18; John 12:27; Acts 1:16–17
- 22 Luke 22:23; Mark 14:19; Matthew 26:22; Genesis 42:1
- 23 John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:20; John 21:7; Revelation 1:16–18
- 24 Acts 13:16; Acts 12:17; Luke 1:22; Luke 5:7; Acts 21:40
- 25 John 21:20; Genesis 44:4–12; Esther 7:5
- 26 Matthew 26:23; John 13:30; Luke 22:21; Mark 14:19–20; John 6:70–71
- 27 Luke 22:3; John 13:2; Acts 5:3; Matthew 12:45; Proverbs 1:16
- 29 Acts 20:34–35; John 12:5–6; Ephesians 4:28; John 13:1; Galatians 2:10
- 30 Isaiah 59:7; Proverbs 4:16; Romans 3:15; Luke 22:53; Job 24:13–15
- 31 1 Peter 4:11; John 14:13; John 7:39; 1 Peter 1:21; John 16:14
- 32 Revelation 22:3; Revelation 22:1; John 17:1; John 17:4–6; John 12:23
- 33 John 7:33–34; 1 John 2:1; John 16:16–22; John 8:21–24; John 12:35–36
- 34 Ephesians 5:2; Leviticus 19:18; John 15:17; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:23
- 35 1 John 4:20–21; 1 John 2:10; 1 John 3:10–14; John 17:21; 1 John 2:5
- 36 2 Peter 1:14; John 21:21–22; John 13:33; John 14:2; John 21:18–19
- 37 Acts 20:24; Acts 21:13; John 21:15; Mark 14:27–31; Matthew 26:31–35
- 38 Luke 22:34; Matthew 26:34; Mark 14:30; Proverbs 16:18; Matthew 26:69–75
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The Lord's Supper, as set forth in John, must, with His assistance, be unfolded in a becoming number of Lectures, and explained with all the ability He is pleased to grant us.
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"Be ye imitators of me," said Paul, "as I also am of Christ." ( 1 Cor. xi. 1.) For on this account He took also flesh of our substance, that by means of it He might teach us virtue.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
Now in the last days, when the fulness of the time of liberty had arrived, the Word Himself did by Himself "wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion," when He washed the disciples' feet with His own hands. For this is the end of the human race inheriting God; that as in the beginning, by means of our …
"The devil," saith the Scripture, "entered into the heart of Judas, that he should betray the Lord." One may say then, what have I done?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
For so he too would have forbidden Him to wash his feet, but when he had heard, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter," and "thou hast no part with me," he speedily withdrew from his determination, and went over to the contrary.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)