In Praise of John the Baptist

18 Then John’s disciples told him about all these things.(A) So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one(B) who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men reached him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases,(C) afflictions, and evil spirits,(D) and he granted sight to many blind people.(E) 22 He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear,(F) the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,(G) 23 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet?(H) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

See, I am sending my messenger
ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.[b](I)

28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John,[c] but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism.(J) 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law(K) had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.(L))

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Footnotes

  1. 7:22 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14
  2. 7:27 Mal 3:1
  3. 7:28 Other mss read women is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist

18 · kai The ho disciples mathētēs of John Iōannēs told apangellō him autos about peri all pas these houtos things . · kai Calling proskaleō two dyo tis of ho his autos disciples mathētēs, · ho John Iōannēs 19 sent pempō them to pros the ho Lord kyrios, saying legō, “ Are eimi you sy the ho one who was to come erchomai, or ē should we expect prosdokaō someone allos else ?” 20 The ho men anēr went paraginomai · de to pros Jesus autos and said legō, “ John Iōannēs the ho Baptist baptistēs has sent apostellō us hēmeis to pros you sy to ask legō, ‘ Are eimi you sy the ho one who is to come erchomai, or ē should we expect prosdokaō someone allos else ?’” 21 In en that ekeinos · ho hour hōra he healed therapeuō many polys people of apo diseases nosos, · kai sicknesses mastix and kai evil ponēros spirits pneuma; and kai to many polys who were blind typhlos he gave charizomai the ability to see blepō. 22 Then kai he answered apokrinomai, saying legō to them autos, “ Go poreuō and tell apangellō John Iōannēs what hos you have seen and kai heard akouō: the blind typhlos see anablepō, the lame chōlos walk peripateō, lepers lepros are cleansed katharizō, and kai the deaf kōphos hear akouō, the dead nekros are raised egeirō, the poor ptōchos have good news brought euangelizō to them. 23 And kai blessed makarios is eimi whoever hos ean is not offended skandalizō by en me egō.”

24 When John’ s Iōannēs messengers angelos left aperchomai, · de · ho Jesus began archō to speak legō to pros the ho crowds ochlos about peri John Iōannēs: “ What tis did you go exerchomai out into eis the ho wilderness erēmos to look theaomai at ? A reed kalamos being shaken saleuō by hypo the wind anemos? 25 But alla what tis did you go exerchomai out to see? A man anthrōpos dressed amphiennymi in en luxurious malakos clothing himation? Those ho who wear en expensive endoxos clothing himatismos and kai live hyparchō in luxury tryphē are eimi found in en · ho royal basileios palaces . 26 But alla what tis did you go exerchomai out to see? A prophet prophētēs? Yes nai, I tell legō you hymeis, and kai one who is more perissoteros than a prophet prophētēs. 27 This houtos is eimi he of peri whom hos it is written graphō, ‘ Behold idou, I am sending apostellō · ho my egō messenger angelos ahead of pro you sy, who hos will prepare kataskeuazō · ho your sy way hodos before emprosthen you sy.’ 28 I tell legō you hymeis, among en those born gennētos of women gynē there is eimi no one oudeis greater megas than John Iōannēs. Yet de the ho one who is least mikros in en the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos is eimi greater megas than he autos.”

29 · kai When all pas the ho people laos including kai the ho tax collectors telōnēs ( those who had been baptized baptizō with the ho baptism baptisma of John Iōannēs) heard akouō this, they declared dikaioō · ho God theos just ; 30 but de the ho Pharisees Pharisaios and kai the ho lawyers nomikos ( those who had baptizō not been baptized baptizō by hypo John autos) rejected atheteō the ho purpose boulē of ho God theos for eis themselves heautou.

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