John Testifies About Jesus

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,^(A) who takes away the sin of the world!^{(B) 30} This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’^{(C) 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.^{(D) 33} And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water^(E) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’^{(F) 34} I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”^[a](G)

³² “‘If someone brings a lamb^(A) as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect.^{(B) 33} They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it^(C) for a sin offering^(D) at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.^{(E) 34} Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.^{(F) 35} They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar^(G) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(A) from the empty way of life^(B) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(C) of Christ, a lamb^(D) without blemish or defect.^{(E) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(F) but was revealed in these last times^(G) for your sake.

²⁴ “He himself bore our sins”^(A) in his body on the cross,^(B) so that we might die to sins^(C) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”^(D)

The Baptism of Jesus^(A)

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.^{(B) 14} But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened,^(C) and he saw the Spirit of God^(D) descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven^(E) said, “This is my Son,^(F) whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”^(G)

³⁸ Whoever believes^(A) in me, as Scripture has said,^(B) rivers of living water^(C) will flow from within them.”^{[a](D) 39} By this he meant the Spirit,^(E) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.^(F) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.^(G)

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,^(A) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(B) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^(C)

¹³ For we were all baptized^(A) by^[a] one Spirit^(B) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(C)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^(D)