John the Baptist’s Testimony

19 This was John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem(A) sent priests(B) and Levites(C) to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 He didn’t deny it but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”(D)

21 “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?” (E)

“I am not,” he said.

“Are you the Prophet?” (F)

“No,” he answered.

22 “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”

23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord[a](G)—just as Isaiah(H) the prophet said.”

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.(I) 25 So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with[b] water,”(J) John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know him. 27 He is the one coming after me,[c](K) whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.” 28 All this happened in Bethany[d] across the Jordan,(L) where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,(M) who takes away the sin(N) of the world! 30 This is the one I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know him,(O) but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed(P) to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit(Q) descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him.(R) 33 I didn’t know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’(S) 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”[e](T)

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

37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?”

They said to him, “Rabbi”(U) (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. 1:23 Is 40:3
  2. 1:26 Or in, also in vv. 31,33
  3. 1:27 Other mss add who came before me
  4. 1:28 Other mss read in Bethabara
  5. 1:34 Other mss read is the Chosen One of God
  6. 1:39 Lit about the tenth hour

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