Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 15:26

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me:" — John 15:26 (ASV)

In response to this attitude of hatred, there must be a continuing witness to the love and grace of Christ. The last two verses of this chapter define the expected action of the disciples, who will maintain the testimony of Jesus after he has left the earth. He now completes the list of witnesses of 5:31–40 by adding the witness of the Holy Spirit, whose ministry he had already partially described (14:16–17, 26), and also the witness of the disciples themselves. They must “testify” concerning Christ.

“From the beginning” probably refers to the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Later, when the disciples felt that it was necessary to choose a successor for Judas Iscariot, one requirement was that of having belonged to the company of disciples during his entire ministry (Acts 1:21–22).

In order to witness to Jesus and his message, one must have complete experiential knowledge of his person. The coupling of the witness of the Spirit with that of the disciples defines their reciprocal relationship. Without the testify of the Spirit, the disciples’ witness will be powerless; without the disciples’ witness, the Spirit will be restricted in his means of expression.