John 5:1-9(a):
5:1After these-things there was a feast of the Judeans and Jesus ascended into Jerusalem. .2But there is a pool in Jerusalem on the Sheep-Gate, which is being said-also in-Hebrew Bethzatha having five pillared-porches; .3in these a multitude of the (people) being weak lay-down - blind, lame, dried; .5but some man was there thirty eight years having in his weakness. .6Jesus, having seen this (man) lying-down and having known that he has already much time, says to him, "Do you intend to become sound?" .7The (man) being weak answered him, "Lord, I do not have a man in order that, whenever the water may be disturbed, he may throw me into the pool, but in which (time) I come another descends before me." .8Jesus says to him, "You must rise-up, lift your mattress, and walk." .9(a)And immediately the man became sound and he lifted his mattress and he walked.
After the events recorded in John chapter 4, it was approaching the time of a Judean feast (the celebration of a certain festival) and Jesus went up into Jerusalem which is located on higher elevation than the surrounding areas.
This feast was in the year 27 A.D. - the Feast of Weeks, and the 50th day from Passover was known as Pentecost making a special sabbath on the first day of that week, a Sunday. It was the end of the month of May and beginning the month of June (7th Sivan in the Judean calendar).
There is a pool (of water for swimming or bathing) in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate, where the sheep are allowed to enter into the city to be kept until they were needed to be bought for sacrificial offerings. This place is also called in the Hebrew language Bethzatha (meaning House of Olives [some Greek texts read Bethesda, meaning House of Mercy, or House of Double Springs, or other variations]). It was located in north-eastern side of Jerusalem, having 5 areas with pillars, arched entryways where people could gather.
Within these five pillared-porches a multitude (a numerous amount of the fullness) of the people being weak (without/lacking strength, infirm, feeble) were continuing to recline...
...but some man was there who had been weak (being without strength, with infirmity) for 38 years.
Jesus, after he saw (perceived) this man lying-down and after he personally knew that by this time the man has spent a lot of chronological time, says to him...
The man being weak answered him...
Evidently the people thought that the first one into the pool when the water would move would receive healing benefits. This man explained to Jesus that yes he did want to be sound but he had a problem with his ability to get to the required place or location so that he could receive it. However, Jesus says to him...
And immediately (straightaway, directly) the man became sound (as verse 6 above) and he lifted his mattress and he walked.
[Reference: Leviticus 23:1-16; Deuteronomy 2:14, 16:1-9; Nehemiah 3:1 and 32.]
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