They have written the same things that ·we learned from [^Lwere handed down by] others—the ·people who saw those things [^Leyewitnesses] from the beginning and ·served God by telling people his message [^Lwere servants of the word; Acts 10:39–41; 1 John 1:1–3].

Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests [^CAnnas was the former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas, the official high priest]. At this time, ·the word of [a message from] God came to John son of Zechariah in the ·desert [wilderness].

Jesus’ First Followers

One day while Jesus was standing beside ·Lake Galilee [^Lthe Lake of Gennesaret; ^Canother name for the Sea of Galilee], many people were ·pressing [crowding] all around him to hear the word of God.

But Jesus said, “·No [^LRather; On the contrary], blessed are those who hear the ·teaching [word] of God and ·obey [practice; keep] it.”

Jesus said to them, “What ·are you talking about [^Lthings]?” They said, “About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet ·who said and did many powerful things [^Lpowerful in deed and word] before God and all the people.