Persecution Foretold
(Acts 23:12-22)

1I have spoken these things to you that you might not fall away. 2They will put you out of the synagogues; but an hour is coming that everyone having killed you will think it is to offer a service to God. 3And they will do these things because they do not know the Father nor Me. 4But I have said these things to you, so that when their hour might have come, you may remember that I said them to you. Now I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit
(Joel 2:28-32; John 14:15-26; Acts 2:1-13; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7)

5But now I go to the One having sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7But I tell you the truth, it is profitable for you that I should go away; for unless I go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

8And having come, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment: 9concerning sin indeed, because they do not believe in Me; 10and concerning righteousness, because I go away to the Father and you behold Me no more; 11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

12Yet I have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now. 13But when He the, Spirit of truth, shall come, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He may hear, He will speak. And He will declare to you the things coming. 14He will glorify Me, for He will take from that which is Mine and will disclose it to you. 15All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this, I said that He will take from that which is Mine and will disclose it to you.

16A little while and you behold Me no longer; and again a little while and you will see Me.”a

Grief into Joy

17Therefore some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while and you do not behold Me; and again a little while and you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18Therefore they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘a little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”

19Jesus knew that they were desiring to ask Him, and He said to them, “Do you inquire among one another concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while and you do not behold Me, and again a little while and you will see Me’? 20Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and will lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be grieved, but your grief will turn to joy. 21The woman has pain when she is giving birth, because her hour has come; but when she brings forth the child, she remembers the tribulation no longer, on account of the joy that a man has been born into the world. 22Therefore you also indeed have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Ask and You will Receive

23And in that day, you will ask of Me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you may ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 24Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

25I have spoken these things to you in allegories; an hour is coming when I will speak to you no more in allegories, but I will report to you plainly concerning the Father. 26In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will implore the Father for you. 27For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God.b 28I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again I leave the world and go to the Father.”

29His disciples say, “Behold, now You speak in openness, and You do not speak allegory. 30Now we know that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should ask You. In this we believe that You came forth from God.”

31Jesus answered them, “Now do you believe? 32Behold, an hour is coming and has come, when you will be scattered, each to the own, and I, you shall leave alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with Me. 33I have spoken these things to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world.”