²⁸ This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

⁴⁰ He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile.

²³ At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.

²⁴ Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallow crossings of the Jordan River at Beth-barah.”

So all the men of Ephraim did as they were told.

²⁶ So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”

⁵ “That perfume was worth a year’s wages.^[a] It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”