John 3 22

John 3:22 kjv

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

John 3:22 nkjv

After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.

John 3:22 niv

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.

John 3:22 esv

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.

John 3:22 nlt

Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.

John 3 verses

John 3 22 Meaning

John 3:22 marks a transition in Jesus’ early ministry following the Passover in Jerusalem and the discourse with Nicodemus. It signifies Jesus’ departure from the capital with His disciples to the rural land of Judea. Here, He establishes a period of active presence and ministry alongside His disciples, which included engaging in water baptism, extending His public witness and gathering of followers. This period occurred concurrently with John the Baptist’s continuing ministry, setting the stage for subsequent interactions between their respective followings.

John 3 22 Context

This verse follows directly after Jesus' extensive discourse with Nicodemus concerning being "born again" and the divine love embodied in sending the Son, ending with a clear delineation between light and darkness. John 3:22 marks a change of setting from the confined, potentially hostile environment of Jerusalem (where Jesus performed signs, Jn 2:23) to the more open rural region of Judea. This move initiates a period where Jesus’ burgeoning ministry, characterized by public teaching and the baptism of new followers, parallels and interacts with the ongoing, influential ministry of John the Baptist. It shows Jesus proactively expanding His reach beyond the specific event of Passover in the capital, engaging more broadly with the people in the countryside. Historically, Judea was the southernmost region of Israel, culturally distinct in some ways from Galilee. For Jesus to conduct ministry here indicates a strategic engagement with a significant segment of the Jewish populace beyond just the religious elite in Jerusalem.

John 3 22 Word analysis

• After these things (μετὰ ταῦτα - meta tauta): This phrase serves as a transitional marker, indicating a chronological progression from the events described in Jerusalem, particularly the interaction with Nicodemus. It signals a new phase or setting in Jesus' ministry. It doesn't imply a direct causal link but rather sequential action.
• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsoús): The central figure, whose active presence and actions define the narrative.
• and His disciples (καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ - kai hoi mathētai autou): Emphasizes that Jesus was not operating alone but had already gathered a following whom He was actively training and involving in His ministry. This foreshadows their future role.
• came into the land of Judea (εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν γῆν ἦλθον - eis tēn Ioudaían gēn ēldon): A significant geographical shift from Jerusalem. "Judea" refers to the region rather than the city of Jerusalem. This movement likely brought Jesus' ministry closer to areas where John the Baptist was also active, establishing a public presence in the rural populace.
• and there He remained with them (κἀκεῖ διέτριβεν μετ᾿ αὐτῶν - kagkei diéleiben met’ autōn): The Greek verb diéleiben (derived from diatribō) suggests "spending time, tarrying, sojourning." It implies a prolonged stay, a deliberate encampment for a period of ministry, teaching, and active engagement with His disciples. It conveys more than just passing through.
• and baptized (καὶ ἐβάπτιζεν - kai ebáptizen): The core action. This early baptism by Jesus' ministry likely aligned with John the Baptist's "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mk 1:4), serving as a preparatory act of ritual cleansing and commitment. It signifies the drawing of followers who identified with His message. Crucially, John 4:1-2 clarifies that it was Jesus' disciples, under His authority, who were doing the actual baptizing, not Jesus Himself directly. This detail is essential for understanding the nuance of this early stage of ministry and the role of the disciples in extending Jesus' influence.
• "Jesus and His disciples...remained with them and baptized": This phrasing indicates an active, ongoing process where Jesus, through His disciples, expanded His sphere of influence. The combined presence and action demonstrate Jesus' method of discipling: not only teaching but involving them directly in the work. This suggests a pattern of ministry where disciples learn by doing under His supervision.

John 3 22 Bonus section

This Judean ministry phase, characterized by Jesus’ concurrent operation with John the Baptist, precedes His main ministry focus shift to Galilee, which occurred after John's imprisonment (Matt 4:12). The detail in John 4:1-2, clarifying that "Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples," serves multiple purposes. It may avoid Jesus being directly associated with a baptism identical to John's (as Jesus Himself needed no repentance), subtly elevates the role of His disciples from mere followers to active participants, and distinguishes this early form of "baptism for repentance" from the later, distinct Christian baptism administered after the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), which carries the profound meaning of identification with Christ's death and resurrection (Rom 6:3-4). This early baptism acted as a bridge, a way for people to align themselves with Jesus' unfolding ministry and message of the kingdom of God.

John 3 22 Commentary

John 3:22 portrays a pivotal transition in Jesus’ nascent ministry, moving from the intensely significant yet localized events of Passover in Jerusalem to the broader, more public sphere of rural Judea. This move highlights Jesus' deliberate expansion of His divine mission beyond the confines of the capital's religious establishment, establishing a public presence and drawing a wider following. The mention of "His disciples" actively participating and "baptizing" reveals Jesus' immediate strategy for ministry multiplication: training and deploying His followers to extend His reach and message.

This period of ministry in Judea is crucial because it takes place in parallel with John the Baptist’s continuing work (as seen in John 3:23-24). It signifies the confluence and then divergence of these two movements. The "baptism" practiced here was a rite of water purification, a public acknowledgment of repentance and preparation for the coming kingdom, similar to John's baptism, yet under Jesus' authority. It foreshadows the ongoing work of the disciples in proclaiming and gathering, emphasizing Jesus as the orchestrator of this growing movement, even if His disciples performed the physical act of baptism. The deliberate engagement and duration indicated by "remained with them" underscores the intentionality of Jesus' discipling and ministry during this formative period.