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.