²⁴ before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.^(A)

²² beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”^(A)

³ Then he said, “Into what, then, were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.”^{(A) 4} 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, in Jesus.”^(B)

³⁷ That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:

³³ You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth.^{(A) 34} Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.^{(B) 36} But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.^(C)

²⁵ Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew.^{[a] 26} They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”^{(A) 27} John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.^{(B) 28} You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,^[b] but I have been sent ahead of him.’^{(C) 29} He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.^{(D) 30} He must increase, but I must decrease.”^[c]

The One Who Comes from Heaven

³¹ The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.^{(E) 32} He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.^{(F) 33} Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified^[d] this, that God is true.^{(G) 34} He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.^{(H) 35} The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.^{(I) 36} Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.^(J)

¹⁵ (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) ¹⁶ From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.^{[a](A) 17} The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.^{(B) 18} No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who^[b] is close to the Father’s heart,^[c] who has made him known.^(C)

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸ He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

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

⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(D) 8} Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.^{(E) 9} Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(F)

¹⁰ And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?”^{(G) 11} In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”^{(H) 12} Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”^{(I) 13} He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”^{(J) 14} Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”^(K)

¹⁵ As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,^{[a](L) 16} John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.^{(M) 17} His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”^(N)

¹⁸ So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done,^{(O) 20} added to them all by shutting up John in prison.