Bible Strands
John 5:16
Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus is the subject following the healing of the paralytic, who identifies Him to the religious leaders. The moment occurs immediately after the man reports the Sabbath violation to the Jews.
The words — διὰ (dia) means “because of” and ἐδίωκον (ediōkon) means “were persecuting.” These terms link the religious leaders' hostility directly to Jesus' Sabbath actions.
The thread — This pattern of opposition recurs in John 10:39 where they attempt to seize Him, and parallels the persecution language in Acts 9:4. The same Sabbath controversy framework appears in Matthew 12:13.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that Jesus' work operates under divine authority, not human tradition. Readers must decide whether to accept His claims or align with those who oppose them.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
Cross-references
- John 10:39 At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
- Acts 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
- Matthew 12:13 Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other.
- Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
- Luke 6:11 But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
- John 5:13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while the crowd was there.
- John 7:19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”
- John 7:25 Then some of the people of Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?
- John 15:20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.