Paragraph 12:42–43

This paragraph tells about the Jewish people who did put their faith in Jesus.

12:42a

Nevertheless: This word introduces a contrast. The contrast is with the main theme of the previous paragraph, that not many people believed in Jesus (12:37). Even though most people did not believe in Jesus, many did believe in him, even some of the Jewish leaders. Here are other ways to introduce this contrast:

Yet (New International Version)
-or-
But (New Century Version)
-or-
Even though it was like that

many of the leaders believed in Him: The word many means “many people.” John was thinking particularly of the Jewish people. This clause indicates that not all the Jewish people rejected Jesus. Even among the Jewish leaders there were many who believed in him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

even among the rulers many believed in him (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
many believed in Jesus, even many of the leaders (New Century Version)
-or-
Many people did believe in him…including some of the Jewish leaders. (New Living Translation (2004))

of the leaders: The Greek phrase here contains a word that several English versions translate as “even.” The word here indicates something less expected than that many people believed in Jesus. The fact that some (or many) of the leaders believed was less expected than that regular people believed. Here is another way to translate this clause to include the word:

even of the authorities (New Revised Standard Version)

leaders: The word leaders here refers to the Jewish religious leaders, members of the Sanhedrin or ruling council. The same word is used in 3:1. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Jewish leaders (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
rulers (God’s Word)

12:42b

but: This word contrasts the belief of the Jews with their failure to confess that they believed in Jesus.

because of the Pharisees: This phrase states the reason that these believers did not confess that they believed. They were afraid that the Pharisees would no longer allow them to worship in the synagogue (see 12:42c).

the Pharisees: This phrase refers to the members of a Jewish religious group or party. It was very important to them to obey all of the Jewish religious laws very carefully and exactly. See the note on 11:46a and how you translated the word there.

they did not confess Him: This clause indicates that those who believed did not say so publicly. They did not tell other people that they believed in Jesus. The pronoun they could refer to all those who believed, although many think that it just refers to the authorities who believed. If possible, use a pronoun that could refer to either group. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
they wouldn’t admit it publicly (God’s Word)
-or-
they did not say they believed in him (New Century Version)

12:42c

for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue: This is a negative purpose clause. The Jews did not say in public that they believed in Jesus because they wanted to avoid something. They were afraid that the Jewish leaders would reject them and expel (remove) them from their religious community. They did not want this to happen. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

so that they would not be put out of the synagogue (English Standard Version)
-or-
so as not to be expelled from the synagogue (Good News Translation)

they would be put out of the synagogue: This clause refers to some kind of possible punishment for those who believed in Jesus. Scholars disagree about whether this was a temporary and limited punishment (banned from being a leader) or something more serious. If more serious, they might not even allow that person to worship in the synagogue. See also the note on 9:22b. The verb would be put out is passive. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

being banned from the synagogue (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Use an active verb. For example:

the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue (God’s Word)

the synagogue: A synagogue was a building where Jews gathered to pray, read the Scriptures, teach their beliefs, and worship. The Jews also gathered there for cultural activities. There was only one temple (in Jerusalem), but there were many synagogues. Each Jewish community had its own synagogue. So the phrase the synagogue does not refer to one specific synagogue, but to the synagogue system in general. The believers feared they would be forbidden to attend the meeting of any synagogue. Here are some ways to translate synagogue :

prayer-house ⌊of the Jews⌋
-or-
meeting-place ⌊of the Jews⌋
-or-
worship building
-or-
house for gathering together

Consider using a footnote that contains some of the information above. See the note and how you translated synagogue in 9:22b. See Key Biblical Terms, synagogue.

General Comment on 12:42

This verse appears to give two reasons why these believing Jews did not confess Jesus. First, it was because of the Pharisees, and second, because they would be put out of the synagogue. It was the Pharisees who would put them out of the synagogue, so it may be natural to combine these two ideas into one clause. For example:

However, they wouldn’t admit it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue. (God’s Word)
-or-
But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. (New Living Translation (2004))

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