The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 This is (A)the testimony of John, when (B)the Jews sent priests and Levites to him (C)from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny; and this is what he confessed: “(D)I am not the [a]Christ.” 21 And so they asked him, “What then? Are you (E)Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you (F)the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am (G)the voice of one calling [b]out in the wilderness, ‘Make the way of the Lord straight,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24 And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the [c]Christ, nor Elijah, nor (H)the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “(I)I baptize [d]in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is (J)He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the (K)strap of His sandal.” 28 These things took place in Bethany (L)beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.

29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, (M)the Lamb of God who (N)takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘(O)After me is coming a Man who has proved to be [e]my superior, (P)because He existed before me.’ 31 And I did not recognize [f]Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing [g]in water.” 32 And John (Q)testified, saying, “(R)I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 And I did not recognize [h]Him, but He who sent me to baptize [i]in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, (S)this is the One who baptizes [j]in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is (T)the [k]Son of God.”

Jesus’ Public Ministry; First Converts

35 Again (U)the next day John was standing [l]with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, (V)the Lamb of God!” 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:20 I.e., Messiah
  2. John 1:23 Or out, In the wilderness make the way
  3. John 1:25 I.e., Messiah
  4. John 1:26 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  5. John 1:30 Lit before me
  6. John 1:31 I.e., as the Messiah
  7. John 1:31 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  8. John 1:33 I.e., as the Messiah
  9. John 1:33 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  10. John 1:33 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  11. John 1:34 One early ms Chosen One of
  12. John 1:35 Lit and

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’s(A) testimony when the Jewish leaders[a](B) in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”(C)

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”(D)

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”(E)

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

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

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[c] water,”(H) John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me,(I) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”(J)

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan,(K) 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,(L) who takes away the sin of the world!(M) 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’(N) 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.(O) 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water(P) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’(Q) 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[d](R)

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus(S)

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

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:19 The Greek term traditionally translated the Jews (hoi Ioudaioi) refers here and elsewhere in John’s Gospel to those Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus; also in 5:10, 15, 16; 7:1, 11, 13; 9:22; 18:14, 28, 36; 19:7, 12, 31, 38; 20:19.
  2. John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3
  3. John 1:26 Or in; also in verses 31 and 33 (twice)
  4. John 1:34 See Isaiah 42:1; many manuscripts is the Son of God.

John the Baptist’s Last Testimony

22 After these things Jesus and His (A)disciples came into the land of Judea; and there He was spending time with them and (B)baptizing. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized— 24 for (C)John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about [a](D)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “(E)Rabbi, He who was with you (F)beyond the Jordan, to whom you (G)have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” 27 John replied, “(H)A person can receive not even one thing unless it (I)has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves [b]are my witnesses that I said, ‘(J)I am not the [c]Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is (K)the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this (L)joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must [d]increase, but I must [e]decrease.

31 (M)He who comes from above is above all; (N)the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. (O)He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What He has seen and heard, of this He (P)testifies; and (Q)no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony (R)has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God (S)sent speaks the words of God; (T)for He does not give the Spirit [f]sparingly. 35 (U)The Father loves the Son and (V)has entrusted all things to His hand. 36 The one who (W)believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who (X)does not [g]obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:25 I.e., ceremonial washing
  2. John 3:28 Lit testify for me
  3. John 3:28 I.e., Messiah
  4. John 3:30 Or become greater
  5. John 3:30 Or become less important
  6. John 3:34 Lit from measure
  7. John 3:36 I.e., in belief

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.(A) 23 Now John(B) also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(C) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(D) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(E) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(F) 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.’(G) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(H) 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.(I) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[a]

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

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:30 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.
  2. John 3:34 Greek he