And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

JOHN 15:27KJV
Know the Bible

John 15:27 (KJV)

What does John 15:27 mean?

John 15:27 means that Jesus is telling his closest followers that they will testify about him because they have been with him from the start of his ministry. Their personal experience and long relationship with Jesus make them reliable witnesses to what he has said and done.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples during his final conversation with them before his arrest. He is preparing them for the time when he will no longer be physically present, and he emphasizes that their firsthand knowledge gives them a unique role in sharing his message. The verse highlights the importance of their direct experience as the foundation for their testimony about Jesus.

The Greek behind John 15:27

  • The word "witness" (μαρτυρέω, martyreō) means to testify or give evidence, often in a legal sense. Here, it stresses that the disciples are not just sharing opinions but are giving reliable testimony based on what they have personally seen and heard.
  • The phrase "from the beginning" (ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς, ap’ archēs) points to the fact that these disciples have been with Jesus since the early days of his ministry, underlining their credibility and deep understanding of his life and teachings.

Why John 15:27 matters

  • John 15:27 clarifies that the disciples' authority to speak about Jesus comes from their close, long-term relationship with him, not just from hearsay or secondhand stories.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage where Jesus talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit, showing that both the Spirit and the disciples will work together to spread the truth about Jesus.
  • It helps clear up any idea that anyone could be a witness in the same way as the disciples; their unique experience sets them apart as foundational witnesses in the early Christian movement.

Where else these words appear

“beginning” Greek G746 · used in 56 verses

  • Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
  • Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
  • Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

“witness” Greek G3140 · used in 75 verses

  • Matthew 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
  • John 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
  • Galatians 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

“been” Greek G2075 · used in 88 verses

  • Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  • John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
  • 1 Corinthians 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

“me” Greek G1700 · used in 104 verses

  • Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  • Luke 22:21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
  • Acts 25:9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?