1-5: Introduction: a feast of the Jews; in Jerusalem; at the Sheep Gate; a pool called Bethesda;  a large number of ill people, including a man ill for 38 years.

6-9a: First Dialogue (Jesus and the Man):

• 6a: Narrator introduces: Jesus sees the man and knows how long he's been ill.
•     6b: Jesus asks: "Do you want to be made well?"
•         7: The ill man answers: He has no one to help him.
•     8: Jesus tells him: "Stand up, take your mat, and walk."
• 9a: Narrator reports result: The man becomes well, takes up his mat, and walks. 

9b-13: Second Dialogue (The Jewish Authorities and the Man):

• 9b: Narrator introduces: That day was a sabbath.
•     10: Jews tell the man: "It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat."
•         11: Man's response: "The man who made me well said to me, 'Take up your mat and walk."
•     12: Jews question him: "Who is the person who said you, 'Take it up and walk'?"
• 13: Narrator concludes: The man did not know who, for Jesus had slipped away.

14-15: Third Dialogue (truncated: Jesus and the Man):

• 14a: Narrator: Jesus found the man in the temple area
•     14b: Jesus: "See, you have been made well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you"
• 15: Narrator: The man tells the Jewish authorities that Jesus was the one who made him well.

16-18: Fourth Dialogue (truncated: The Jewish Authorities and Jesus):

• 16: Narrator: The Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.
•     17: Jesus: "My father is still working, and I also am working."
• 18: Narrator: The Jews try all the more to kill Jesus, for breaking the sabbath, and for making himself equal to God.

Part I (19-30): Jesus' Works: Giving Life and Exercising Judgment

Note: The first half of this passage (vv. 19-24) focuses more on Jesus' work in the present, while the second half (vv. 25-30) focuses somewhat more on his work in the future. 

• 19: Amen, Amen: The son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing.
  • 20: The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show greater works, so that you may marvel.
    • 21: For as the Father raises the dead and gives life; so also the Son gives life.
    • 22: The Father does not judge, but has given all judgment to the Son,
    • 23: so that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father; 
      whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father.
      • 24: Amen, Amen: whoever hears my word and believes the one who sent me has eternal life; 
            he is not judged, but has passed from death to life.
      • 25: Amen, Amen: the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
    • 26: For as the Father has life within himself, so also the Son has life within himself.
    • 27: The Father has given the Son authority to exercise judgment.
  • 28-29: Do not marvel: All who are in tombs will hear the Son's voice and come out; those who did good deeds receive "resurrection of life"; those who did evil receive "resurrection of judgment."
• 30: I can do nothing on my own; I judge as I hear; I seek not my will, but the will of the one who sent me.

Part II (31-40): A Series of Witnesses to Jesus

• A) 31: Jesus' testimony about himself
• B) 32-35: Testimony from John (the Baptist)
• C) 36: Testimony from the Works that Jesus does
• D) 37-38: Testimony from the Father
• E) 39-40: Testimony from the Scriptures

Part III (41-47): A Series of Contrasts about Praise and Believing

• 41-42: I don't accept human praise; you don't have God's love.
•     43: I came in the name of the Father (you don't accept); others come in their own name (you will accept).
•         44: You accept praise from one another, but you don't seek the praise that comes only from God.
• 45: I won't accuse you before the Father; Moses will accuse you before the Father.
•     46: If you had believed Moses, you would have believed me.
•         47: If you don't believe Moses' writings, how can you believe my words?