²³ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness,^(A) ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”^[a](B)

²⁴ Now the Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵ questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

²⁶ “I baptize with^[b] water,”^(C) John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me,^(D) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”^(E)

²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan,^(F) where John was baptizing.

John Testifies About Jesus

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,^(G) who takes away the sin of the world!^{(H) 30} This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’^{(I) 31} I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.^{(J) 33} And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water^(K) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’^{(L) 34} I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”^[c](M)

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus^(N)

³⁵ The next day John^(O) was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”^(P)

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others,^(A) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

⁸ “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.^(A)

Jesus Greater Than Moses

3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,^(A) who share in the heavenly calling,^(B) fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge^(C) as our apostle and high priest.^(D)

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(A) from the empty way of life^(B) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(C) of Christ, a lamb^(D) without blemish or defect.^{(E) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(F) but was revealed in these last times^(G) for your sake.