48 The Jewish leaders asked, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re from Samaria and that you have a demon?”

49 “No, I don’t have a demon,” Yeshua answered, “but I honour my father and you’re dishonouring me. 50 But I’m not searching greatness for myself—my father is the one searching and the one judging. 51 I can assure you, that anyone who puts my teaching into practice can be certain to avoid death in this age.”

52 “Now we know that you have a demon!” the Jews said. “Abraham and the prophets all died, but you’re saying that those who follow your teaching can be certain to avoid death in this age. 53 How could you be greater than our ancestor Abraham who died? Even the prophets died. Who do you think you are?”

54 Again Yeshua answered, “If I praise myself, my praise is worthless, but it’s my father who praises me—the one who you say is your God 55 although in fact you don’t even know him. But I have known him, and so I can’t say that I haven’t known him or I’d be a liar like all of you. But I have known him and I am putting his desires into practice. 56 Your ancestor Abraham would have been excited to see me here—in fact he did see ahead and was very happy about it.”

57 Because of that, the Jewish leaders asked, “You aren’t even fifty years old yet. How could you have seen Abraham?”[fn]

58 Yeshua answered, “I can assure you that I am[fn] before Abraham ever existed.”

59 When they heard that, they picked up rocks to throw at Yeshua to kill him. But Yeshua became hidden from their sight, and went on out of the temple.