²⁴ Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.^(A)

²² beginning from John’s baptism^(A) to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness^(B) with us of his resurrection.”

³ So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism^(A) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”^(B)

³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—

³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified^(A) to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony;^(B) but I mention it that you may be saved.^{(C) 35} John was a lamp that burned and gave light,^(D) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John.^(E) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing^(F)—testify that the Father has sent me.^(G)

²⁵ An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.^{(A) 26} They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,^(B) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified^(C) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

²⁷ To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’^{(D) 29} The bride belongs to the bridegroom.^(E) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.^{(F) 30} He must become greater; I must become less.”^[a]

³¹ The one who comes from above^(G) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.^(H) The one who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He testifies to what he has seen and heard,^(I) but no one accepts his testimony.^{(J) 33} Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴ For the one whom God has sent^(K) speaks the words of God, for God^[b] gives the Spirit^(L) without limit. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.^{(M) 36} Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,^(N) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

¹⁵ (John testified^(A) concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)^{(B) 16} Out of his fullness^(C) we have all received grace^(D) in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses;^(E) grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.^{(F) 18} No one has ever seen God,^(G) but the one and only Son, who is himself God and^[a](H) is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John.^{(A) 7} He came as a witness to testify^(B) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.^{(C) 8} He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

² during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,^(A) the word of God came to John^(B) son of Zechariah^(C) in the wilderness. ³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.^{(D) 4} As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!^(F) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(G) 8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(H) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(I)

¹⁰ “What should we do then?”^(J) the crowd asked.

¹¹ John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”^(K)

¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized.^(L) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

¹³ “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”^(M) he told them.

¹⁴ Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely^(N)—be content with your pay.”

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John^(O) might possibly be the Messiah.^{(P) 16} John answered them all, “I baptize you with^[b] water.^(Q) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.^{(R) 17} His winnowing fork^(S) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^{(T) 18} And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

¹⁹ But when John rebuked Herod^(U) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, ²⁰ Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.^(V)