John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

A Question About Fasting

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Messengers from John the Baptist

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

The Death of John the Baptist

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus,

and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”

For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,

because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”

He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

The Transfiguration

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

The Baptism of Jesus

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,

And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.

Jesus Heals Many

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

A Question About Fasting

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.

The Death of John the Baptist

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”

But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her.

For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.”

for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”

And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison

And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

The Transfiguration

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

The Request of James and John

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.

Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.”

But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.

Signs of the End of the Age

And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

The Birth of John the Baptist

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”

And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

A Question About Fasting

And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”

Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,

Messengers from John the Baptist

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John,

And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”

And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

(When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John,

For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.

Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,

Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.

And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.”

The Transfiguration

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us

John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.”

And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

The Lord's Prayer

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.

was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”

But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.”

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

The Testimony of John the Baptist

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,

These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

John the Baptist Exalts Christ

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.

John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

(for John had not yet been put in prison).

Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.

And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

Jesus and the Woman of Samaria

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.

And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”

Jesus and Peter

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

The Lame Beggar Healed

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.

Peter and John Before the Council

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,

you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:

And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

He killed James the brother of John with the sword,

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”

And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Prologue

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Greeting to the Seven Churches

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

Vision of the Son of Man

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me,