The conclusion of Christ’s last discourse to his disciples.

¹ “These things I have spoken to you, so that you would not stumble.¹

1. 16:1Or, ‘would not be scandalized.’ The word ‘scandalized’ is becoming fairly obscure in English, and the word ‘scandal’ has a different meaning in secular usage than it does in religious usage, so stumble is perhaps a better choice.(Conte)

² They will put you out of the synagogues. But the hour is coming when everyone who puts you to death will consider that he is offering an excellent service to God.

³ And they will do these things to you because they have not known the Father, nor me.

⁴ But these things I have spoken to you, so that, when the hour for these things will have arrived, you may remember that I told you.

⁵ But I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I am going to him who sent me. And no one among you has asked me, ‘Where are you going?’

⁶ But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

⁷ But I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I am going. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But when I will have gone away, I will send him to you.

⁸ And when he has arrived, he will argue against the world, about sin and about justice and about judgment:¹

1. 16:8He will convince the world of sin, etc: The Holy Ghost, by his coming brought over many thousands, first, to a sense of their sin in not believing in Christ. Secondly, to a conviction of the justice of Christ, now sitting at the right hand of his Father. And thirdly, to a right apprehension of the judgment prepared for them that choose to follow Satan, who is already judged and condemned.(Challoner)

⁹ about sin, indeed, because they have not believed in me;

¹⁰ about justice, truly, because I am going to the Father, and you will not see me any longer;

¹¹ about judgment, then, because the prince of this world has already been judged.

¹² I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now.

¹³ But when the Spirit of truth has arrived, he will teach the whole truth to you. For he will not be speaking from himself. Instead, whatever he will hear, he will speak. And he will announce to you the things that are to come.¹

1. 16:13Will teach you all truth: See the annotation on chap. 14. ver. 26.(Challoner)

¹⁴ He shall glorify me. For he will receive from what is mine, and he will announce it to you.

¹⁵ All things whatsoever that the Father has are mine. For this reason, I said that he will receive from what is mine and that he will announce it to you.

¹⁶ A little while, and then you will not see me. And again a little while, and you will see me. For I am going to the Father.”

¹⁷ Then some of his disciples said to one another: “What is this, that he is saying to us: ‘A little while, and you will not see me,’ and ‘Again a little while, and you will see me,’ and, ‘For I am going to the Father?’ ”

¹⁸ And they said: “What is this, that he is saying, ‘A little while?’ We do not understand what he is saying.”

¹⁹ But Jesus realized that they wanted to question him, and so he said to them: “Are you inquiring among yourselves about this, that I said: ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’

²⁰ Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall mourn and weep, but the world will rejoice. And you shall be greatly saddened, yet your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

²¹ A woman, when she is giving birth, has sorrow, because her hour has arrived. But when she has given birth to the child, then she no longer remembers the difficulties, because of the joy: for a man has been born into the world.

²² Therefore, you also, indeed, have sorrow now. But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice. And no one will take away your joy from you.

²³ And, in that day, you will not petition me for anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you.

²⁴ Until now, you have not requested anything in my name. Ask, and you shall receive, so that your joy may be full.

²⁵ I have spoken these things to you in proverbs. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in proverbs; instead, I will announce to you plainly from the Father.

²⁶ In that day, you shall ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father for you.

²⁷ For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and because you have believed that I went forth from God.

²⁸ I went forth from the Father, and I have come into the world. Next I am leaving the world, and I am going to the Father.”

²⁹ His disciples said to him: “Behold, now you are speaking plainly and not reciting a proverb.

³⁰ Now we know that you know all things, and that you have no need for anyone to question you. By this, we believe that you went forth from God.”

³¹ Jesus answered them: “Do you believe now?

³² Behold, the hour is coming, and it has now arrived, when you will be scattered, each one on his own, and you will leave me behind, alone. And yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

³³ These things I have spoken to you, so that you may have peace in me. In the world, you will have difficulties. But have confidence: I have overcome the world.”