On Good Friday, April 7, 1724, Johann Sebastian Bach's St. John Passion was performed for the first time at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig. This two-hour-long work, frequently performed, is considered one of the most impressive musical interpretations of the Passion story of Jesus. Built on a foundation of late Baroque and highly expressive sound worlds, word and tone come together to create a biblical interpretation that continues to fascinate today. Meinrad Walter explores Bach's St. John Passion in light of its complex history of creation, the relationship between word and tone, and its spiritual and theological content. The author provides a theologically grounded and vivid guide through the individual sections of the work, offering a lively insight into Bach's musical language regarding the theme of the Passion. For the first time, the lesser-known second version from 1725, which has been available from Carus Verlag for several years, is also discussed in detail, revealing another layer of interpretation.