16. And he said to those who sold pigeons, "Take this from here, and do not make my Father's house a house of trade."

17. At this his disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house eats me up."

18. To this the Jews said, "By what sign will you prove to us that you have the authority to do this?"

19. Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days."

20. To this the Jews said, "This temple has been built for forty-six years, and you will build it in three days?"

21. And he spoke of the temple of his body.

22. And when he rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said these things, and they believed the Scriptures and the word that Jesus had spoken.

23. And when he was in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, many saw the miracles he performed, and believed in his name.

24. But Jesus himself did not entrust himself to them, because he knew everyone

25. and had no need for anyone to bear witness to man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Chapter 3

1. There was one among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, one of the leaders of the Jews.

2. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi! we know that you are a teacher who came from God; for no one can do such miracles as you do, unless God is with him.

3. Jesus answered and said to him, "Verily, verily, I say to you, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

4. Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb another time and be born?

5. Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say to you, unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7. Do not be surprised that I said to you, "You must be born again."

8. The Spirit breathes where it will, and you hear its voice, but you do not know whence it comes and whither it goes: so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

9. Nicodemus answered and said to him, "How can this be?"

10. Jesus answered and said to him, "You are a teacher of Israel, and do you not know this?"