¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(A) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(B) and said: “Do not be afraid.^(C) I am the First and the Last.^{(D) 18} I am the Living One; I was dead,^(E) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(F) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(G)

¹⁹ “Write, therefore, what you have seen,^(H) what is now and what will take place later. ²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand^(I) and of the seven golden lampstands^(J) is this: The seven stars are the angels^[a] of the seven churches,^(K) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.^(L)

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

¹⁹ Now this was John’s^(A) testimony when the Jewish leaders^[a](B) in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.