▁imm edia cy , ▁at ▁times ▁more ▁un brid led ▁and ▁less ▁" fin ished ". ▁ ▁The ▁work ▁is ▁most ▁often ▁heard ▁today ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 7 3 9 – 1 7 4 9 ▁version ▁( ne ver ▁performed ▁during ▁Bach ' s ▁lifetime ). ▁ ▁Bach ▁first ▁performed ▁it ▁in ▁ 1 7 2 4 ▁and ▁ ▁re vised ▁it ▁in ▁ 1 7 2 5 , ▁ 1 7 3 2 , ▁and ▁ 1 7 4 9 , ▁adding ▁several ▁numbers . ▁"", ▁a ▁ 1 7 2 5 ▁replacement ▁for ▁the ▁opening ▁ch orus , ▁found ▁a ▁new ▁home ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 7 3 6 ▁St ▁Matthew ▁Pass ion ▁but ▁several ▁a rias ▁from ▁the ▁revis ions ▁are ▁found ▁only ▁in ▁the ▁append ices ▁to ▁modern ▁ed itions . ▁ ▁First ▁performance ▁ ▁Origin ally ▁Bach ▁intended ▁that ▁the ▁St ▁John ▁Pass ion ▁would ▁be ▁first ▁performed ▁in ▁the ▁St . ▁Thomas ▁Church ▁in ▁Leipzig , ▁but ▁due ▁to ▁a ▁last - min ute ▁change ▁by ▁the ▁music ▁council , ▁it ▁was ▁first ▁performed ▁on ▁Good ▁Friday ▁( as ▁observed ▁by ▁German ▁Protest ants ) ▁of ▁ 1 7 2 4 ▁in ▁the ▁St . ▁Nicholas ▁Church , ▁shortly ▁after ▁Bach ' s ▁ 3 9 th ▁birth day . ▁Bach ▁quickly ▁agreed ▁to ▁their ▁desire ▁to ▁move ▁the ▁service ▁to ▁St . ▁Nicholas ▁Church , ▁but ▁pointed ▁out ▁that ▁the ▁book let ▁was ▁already ▁printed , ▁that ▁there ▁was ▁no ▁room ▁available ▁and ▁that ▁the