Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

I have told you before it come to pass - Lest my death should be a stumbling-block to you, I have spoken of it beforehand, and showed you the necessity of it, that when it happens ye may believe, that as I could predict it so clearly, and so circumstantially, so all the good which I have promised shall be the result may be confidently expected by you; and that your sorrow, if not entirely removed, may at least be much mitigated.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Before it come to pass - Before my death, resurrection, and ascension.

Ye might believe - You might be confirmed or strengthened in faith by the evidence which I gave that I came from God - the power of foretelling future events.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And now I have told you before it came to pass,.... This is a strong proof of his true and proper deity, for none but the omniscient God can tell of things before they come to pass; this is peculiar to him, and distinguishes him from the gods of the Gentiles; see Isaiah 41:22;

that when it is come to pass, ye might believe: that is, that when he was removed from them, and gone to his Father, they might then believe that he was truly God, the Son of God, the promised Messiah; and that he was then in glory, and at the right hand of God.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

I have told you — Of my going and return.

The Fourfold Gospel

1. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. Jesus had told them fully of his return to the Father, that when they received the subsequent manifestation of it they might firmly believe it.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

И вот, Я сказал вам. Об этом учеников надлежало увещевать часто. Дело это было таинственным и превосходило человеческое разумение. Христос говорит, что предсказал будущее, чтобы ученики, когда все сбудется, поверили Ему. Полезное подкрепление веры: память повторяет пророчества Христовы, а очи видят исполнение того, что некогда изрекли Его уста. Но кажется, что это также некая уступка. Христос как бы говорит: Поскольку ваш разум еще не может вместить столь великую тайну, Я прощаю вам до того времени, когда все исполнится. Исполнение же сослужит вам службу толкователя и подтвердит истинность всего учения. Итак, хотя казалось, что тогда Христос обращался к глухим, затем выяснилось: Он не напрасно сотрясал воздух, но воистину бросил в землю плодоносное семя. Христос говорит здесь о Своей смерти и исходе всего дела. Ведь Его смерть, воскресение и вознесение на небеса соединены с Его учением для того, чтобы породить в нас веру.

Frédéric Louis Godet - Commentary on Selected Books

Ver. 29. This disappearance of Jesus, so contrary to their thoughts, might in itself shake their faith; but Jesus applies to this trial what He had said of the treachery of Judas: through the fact that He has foretold it to them, it will, on the contrary, turn to the strengthening of their faith. And now, finally, the summons to depart:

John Trapp Complete Commentary

29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

Ver. 29. And now I have told you before] Which none beside God himself could do, but by divine revelation. The knowledge of future contingents is of God only, and of such as to whom he is pleased to communicate it; as he did to the prophets, who when they foretold things only as in their causes, they might happen or not, as Isaiah 38:1; Jonah 3:4; 1 Kings 21:20; but when they foretold things ut futura in seipsis, then they occured infallibly. The devil also may come acquainted with such things, and be able to foretell them, if God reveal them to him, as he did Ahab’s death; and as Trithemius the abbot and Cusanus the cardinal foretold a change of religion to happen in the year 1517, which was the year wherein Luther began to stickle for Christ against the pope. {a}

{a} Cusanus obiit, A. D. 1464. Trithem. scripsit an. 1508. Genius vero qui Trithemio haec dictavit, albus an ater fuerit, ego non facile dixerim. Bucholcer.

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

John 14:29. I have told you before it come to pass,— "I have foretold my removal hence, my return to the Father, and the descent of the Spirit, in order that when these things happen, your faith, instead of being shaken, may be confirmed." It is very judiciously observed by Dr. Jenkins, in his excellent Defence of Christianity, that "when miraculous events are also the accomplishment of prophesies, the degree of evidence arising from them is the greatest that can possibly be conceived."

Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament

The time of our Saviour's death now nearer and nearer approaching, he prepares the expectation of his disciples for it, because evils that surprize us suddenly, do sink our spirits sadly: whereas what we fear, for that we prepare.

Accordingly our Lord arms his disciples against all disquietude, and overwhelming sorrow for his departure from them: I have told you before, that when it comes to pass, ye might believe; that is, be assured that I am not mere man, but truly and really God, and depend upon me for life and salvation.

Observe, 2. How our Saviour points out the cause of his suffering; namely, Satan and his instruments; The prince of this world cometh; that is, by Judas, the soldiers, and the high priests: But he hath nothing in me: that is, "He will find no sin or corruption in men to side with his temptation, or no guilt upon me to give him any advantage against me, for I shall die as a perfectly innocent person." Christ, in suffering for our sins, did not only conflict with the wrath of God, but with the rage of men and devils; yet all the power and policy, all the malice and cruelty, of Satan, cannot prevail against Christ, any farther than he voluntarily yields and submits himself unto it. The prince of this world cometh, but hath nothing in me.

Observe, 3. That it was Christ's love and obedience to his Father that carried him forth so cheerfully to the work of sufferings, supported him under it, and carried him through it: That the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. True love to God will draw all men to obedience in the hardest service and sufferings: the grand motive of commands, and a regard to his glory.

Lord, let thy love and obedience to thy Father, in all thy sufferings, be the subject of our admiration, and the matter of our imitation also. As the Father gives us commandment, so let us always do.

Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary

29.] εἴρηκα—viz. ‘the prophecies of My Resurrection and Ascension,’ &c.

πιστεύσητε] See ch. John 13:19, where ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι is supplied. That ye may believe, in the fullest sense of the word. “Neque enim Eum Dei Filium non et ante credebant: sed cum in Illo factum esset quod ante prædixit, fides illa quæ tunc quando illis loquebatur fuit parva, et cum moreretur pæne jam nulla, et revixit et crevit.” Aug⁽²⁰²⁾ in Joann. Tract. lxxix. 1.

Heinrich Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

John 14:29. And now, even now, when my departure is approaching, I have said it to you, namely, ὅτι πορεύομαι πρὸς τ. π., John 14:28, not what was said in John 14:26, as Lücke thinks.

ὅταν γένηται] cum factum fuerit, namely, through my death; comp. John 13:19.

πιστεύσητε] Not absolutely, so that it would express of itself what is more precisely denned in John 13:19 by ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι; but: that you may believe it, namely, that I have gone to the Father. Comp. πιστεύετέ μοι, John 14:11. The point for the departing Lord was, that when His approaching death should take place, the disciples should have the true believing apprehension of it, namely, as His departure to the Father.

Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament

John 14:29. εἴρηκα, I have told you) as to My departure and return. The word is the seed: faith [with peace and joy.—V. g.] is the fruit.— ἵνα, that) The scope of this discourse. So ch. John 15:11; John 15:17, John 16:1; John 16:4; John 16:33.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Evils that surprise us are always the most heavy, and load our spirits. Saith our Saviour, Before these things come to pass, I have given you notice of them, that, when you see them come to pass, you might not be overwhelmed with sorrow and trouble, to the hinderance of your faith in me; but understanding that I have told you the truth before the thing come to pass, you may be assured that I am not mere man, but truly God; and receive and embrace me, and rest upon me as your Saviour.

Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament

Have told you; of my departure from you by the death of the cross.

Ye might believe; that is, more fully: might have your faith in me greatly strengthened by witnessing the fulfilment of my words.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

29.Ye might believe—Jesus here, as in John 13:19, utters words which should hereafter ripen into fruit. In the future, as they should contemplate the past as a whole, they would see those correspondences between his prophecies and the fact as should establish the divinity of his teaching.

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

“And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe”.

He is telling them here that, before it happens, He is preparing them for the amazing change that will take place in His status. Then when they see Him resurrected, and ascending to the glory of the Father, they will remember what He has told them and recognise the truth for what it is.

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable

Jesus" reason for saying what He did was not to cause the disciples embarrassment but to strengthen their faith. Their faith would grow stronger after the Resurrection and Ascension (cf. John 13:19). The disciples would then view Jesus" teaching here as fulfilled prophecy.

John stressed the importance of believing throughout his Gospel (cf. John 1:50; John 3:12; John 3:15; John 4:21; John 4:41; John 5:24; John 5:44; John 5:46; John 6:29; John 6:35; John 6:47; John 6:64; John 7:38; John 8:24; John 8:45; John 9:35; John 10:38; John 11:25; John 11:41; John 12:37; John 12:44; John 13:19; John 14:1; John 14:11; John 16:31; John 17:20; John 20:27). Jesus" statement here returns to that theme. Both Jesus and John wanted to build faith in disciples of Jesus.

Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament

John 14:29. And now I have told you before it come to past, that, when it is come to pan, ye may believe (comp. on chap. John 13:19). It is not a first faith, but the deeper working of faith, the experimental seal to it, that is spoken of.

The Expositor's Greek Testament

John 14:29_{. ’ . “I have told you now before it came to pass,” i.e., He has told them of His departure, that they might not be terrified or depressed by its occurrence, but might recognise it as foretold by Him as the consummation of His work and so might have their faith increased. Cf.}John 13:19_.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

now. Greek. nee. See John 12:27.

believe. App-150.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

And now I have told you before it come to pass - referring to His departure to the Father, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to follow thereon,

That, when it is come to pass, ye might believe - or have your faith immoveably established.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(29) And now I have told you before it come to pass.—Comp. John 13:19. Here, again, He tells them the event before the accomplishment, that it may serve to strengthen their faith. Two interpretations of this verse are possible. (1) That He told them of the coming of the Advocate to teach all truth, and bring all things to their remembrance, in order that in the fulfilment of this they may, with increase of faith, believe in Him. (2) That He told them of His going to the Father, in order that when the hour of departure came they may believe that He had gone to the Father. Upon the whole, and especially considering the close parallel with John 13:19, the first seems the more probable meaning.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

13:19; 16:4-30,31; Matthew 24:24,25

Ernst Hengstenberg on John, Revelation, Ecclesiastes, Ezekiel & Psalms

Ver. 29. "And now I have told yon before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."

Comp. ch. John 13:19. "I have told it yon" refers to the departure of Christ, and His return to His disciples, as this had its glorious beginning in the resurrection. Of like significance with the ὑπάγω καὶ ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, is the πορεύομαι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. For the going of Christ to the Father must have its announcement or declare itself in His resurrection and glorification. The prediction, therefore, refers to the suffering of Christ, and His entrance into His glory, Luke 24:26.

After the Lord had strengthened His disciples. Himself doing that which He appointed Peter to do, "Strengthen thy brethren," Luke 22:32, He can challenge them to go forth with Him to the decisive conflict.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

29.And I have told you now. It was proper that the disciples should be frequently admonished on this point; for it was a secret far exceeding all human capacity. He testifies that he foretells what shall happen, that, when it has happened, they may believe; for it was a useful confirmation of their faith when they brought to recollection the predictions of Christ, and saw accomplished before their eyes what they had formerly heard from his mouth. Yet it appears to be a sort of concession, as if Christ had said, “Because you are not yet capable of comprehending so deep a mystery, I bear with you till the event has happened, which will serve as an interpreter to explain this doctrine.” Although for a time he seemed to speak to the deaf, yet it afterwards appeared that his words were not scattered in vain, or, as we may say, in the air, but that it was a seed thrown into the earth. Now, as Christ speaks here about his word and the accomplishment of events, so his death, and resurrection, and ascension to heaven, are combined with doctrine, that they may produce faith in us.