⁴ As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

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

²⁸ You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’^{(A) 29} The bride belongs to the bridegroom.^(B) 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.^{(C) 30} He must become greater; I must become less.”^[a]

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

²⁶ “I baptize with^[a] water,”^(A) John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me,^(B) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”^(C)

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

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus^(L)

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

⁷ He came as a witness to testify^(A) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.^(B)

¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord,^(A) in the spirit and power of Elijah,^(B) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children^(C) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”^(D)

³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: