John 8 30

John 8:30 kjv

As he spake these words, many believed on him.

John 8:30 nkjv

As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

John 8:30 niv

Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

John 8:30 esv

As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

John 8:30 nlt

Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.

John 8 30 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 15:6Abram believed the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.Faith leads to righteousness.
Psa 19:7The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;...God's word renews and transforms.
Isa 55:11So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void...God's word is effective and accomplishes purpose.
Matt 13:23...he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit...Hearing, understanding, and bearing spiritual fruit.
Luke 8:12...then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.Spiritual opposition to belief.
John 1:12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:Receiving Jesus by faith grants divine sonship.
John 2:11...and His disciples believed in Him.Early instances of belief among followers.
John 3:16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish...Belief in Jesus ensures eternal life.
John 4:39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified...Belief prompted by a truthful testimony.
John 5:24Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life...Hearing Jesus' word leads to everlasting life.
John 6:69Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.Confession of Jesus' Messiahship and divinity.
John 7:31And many of the people believed in Him...Widespread belief among common people.
John 8:31-32Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed..."Call to sustained belief and genuine discipleship.
John 10:42Then many believed in Him there.Broad acceptance of Jesus in a specific place.
John 11:45Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.Belief sparked by witnessing Jesus' miracles.
John 12:42Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him...Belief extended to influential individuals.
John 20:31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.Purpose of Gospel writing: to cultivate belief.
Acts 2:41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.Mass conversion as a response to apostolic preaching.
Acts 4:4However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.Rapid church growth through hearing the Gospel.
Acts 17:34However, some men joined him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite...Individual responses of faith from diverse backgrounds.
Rom 10:14How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?Necessity of hearing the message for belief.
Rom 10:17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.Direct link between the Word of God and the generation of faith.
Heb 4:2For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith...The importance of combining hearing with faith for spiritual benefit.

John 8 verses

John 8 30 Meaning

John 8:30 states that as Jesus continued to articulate profound truths about Himself and His Father, a substantial number of individuals among His audience came to place their personal trust and committed faith in Him. This belief signified a deeper spiritual conviction and reliance on His person, moving beyond mere intellectual agreement to a transformative acceptance of His identity and claims.

John 8 30 Context

John 8:30 is embedded within an intense dialogue that Jesus conducts in the Temple in Jerusalem, likely during or shortly after the Feast of Booths. The immediate preceding verses (John 8:12-29) depict Jesus’ self-proclamation as the "Light of the World" (John 8:12), which immediately sparks heated debates with the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders. They repeatedly challenge His origin, authority, and identity, misunderstanding His words and accusing Him of illegitimate claims. In response, Jesus makes increasingly profound statements about His unique relationship with God the Father ("I and the Father who sent Me," John 8:16), His divine mission, and His complete obedience to God's will ("I always do the things that please Him," John 8:29). He also foretells His crucifixion ("when you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He," John 8:28). It is precisely in the midst of this controversial and profound teaching, despite strong opposition, that some within the crowd are deeply impacted and respond with belief. This verse marks a notable positive outcome within a generally adversarial atmosphere.

John 8 30 Word analysis

  • As He spoke: (Greek: hōs elalei, ὡς ἐλάλει). The imperfect tense here indicates an ongoing or continuous action. It implies that it was not a single, isolated statement but the cumulative effect of Jesus' discourse—His consistent teaching and self-revelation in John 8:21-29—that led to belief. This emphasizes the transformative power inherent in Jesus’ persistent and living word.
  • these words: (Greek: tauta, ταῦτα). This refers specifically to the claims and truths Jesus had just uttered. These included profound revelations about His heavenly origin, His perfect obedience to the Father, and His essential identity that would be fully revealed when He was "lifted up" (a double meaning referring to crucifixion and exaltation). The specificity indicates that their belief was a direct response to the weighty content of His recent message.
  • many: (Greek: polloi, πολλοί). Denotes a considerable, significant number, not just a few. This highlights that despite the active and vocal opposition from Jewish leaders in the same passage, Jesus’ truth still powerfully resonated with a substantial portion of His audience. It signifies a tangible outcome and initial harvest of His divine words.
  • believed: (Greek: episteusan, ἐπίστευσαν). This is an aorist active indicative verb, pisteuō (πιστεύω), meaning "to believe," "to trust," or "to have faith." The aorist tense signifies a definite, completed action or event. It points to a decisive moment of intellectual conviction coupled with volitional commitment.
  • in Him: (Greek: eis auton, εἰς αὐτόν). This crucial Greek preposition eis (into/unto) following pisteuō signifies more than mere intellectual agreement (belief that). It expresses a directional movement, a complete reliance, and a personal commitment into Jesus' person. This phrase in John's Gospel often signifies saving faith, denoting a new and vital relationship of trust in Him as the object of their faith and the source of salvation.
  • "As He spoke these words, many believed": This entire phrase highlights the direct causal link between the speaking of divine truth by Jesus and the immediate, transformative response of faith in many hearts. It underscores the intrinsic efficacy of Jesus' words, which, as a medium of divine revelation and power, directly lead people to an initial state of trust in Him. The timing is essential, indicating a sudden spiritual illumination and conviction.

John 8 30 Bonus section

  • Audience Segmentation: John 8:30 demonstrates that within a single audience, diverse responses to Jesus' message are possible—ranging from outright hostility to initial belief. This highlights the varied spiritual conditions of human hearts.
  • Bridge to Discipleship: While important, the "belief" recorded in John 8:30 is explicitly shown in the subsequent verses (John 8:31ff) to be an initial step. Jesus immediately tests and deepens this belief by calling them to continued adherence to His word, implying that true saving faith leads to a lifestyle of obedience and progressive spiritual understanding, distinguishing genuine discipleship from mere fleeting conviction.
  • Prevenient Grace: Though their belief is a human response, the effect of Jesus’ words culminating in belief points to the unseen work of God's drawing power (cf. John 6:44), preparing hearts to receive the truth and respond in faith.

John 8 30 Commentary

John 8:30 serves as a powerful testament to the inherent authority and compelling truth of Jesus' teachings. Despite constant theological and personal assaults from the Jewish leaders, Jesus’ steadfast declarations about His divine sonship, His unity with the Father, and the spiritual significance of His forthcoming death ("lifted up") were not in vain. The very act of His speaking—His persistent, profound articulation of God's truth—pierced through resistance and cultivated belief. The "many" who "believed in Him" represent a significant positive turning point amidst widespread controversy. Their faith, marked by the pivotal Greek phrase "eis auton" (in Him), was more than intellectual assent; it was a surrender of trust, a recognition of Jesus as the true Light and the Way to God. This initial act of faith sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent challenge to these new believers in John 8:31-32, urging them to demonstrate the genuineness of their faith by "abiding in His word" and thereby moving from nascent belief to true discipleship. The verse affirms that God's Word, when spoken by His Son, possesses a transformative power to draw people to Himself, even in the most hardened spiritual environments.