John 1:19–42
1:19 This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
1:20 He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”
1:21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
1:22 They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
1:23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
1:24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
1:25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptise if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
1:26 John answered them, “I baptise in water, but amongst you stands one whom you don’t know.
1:27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”
1:28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.
1:29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
1:30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’
1:31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptising in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.”
1:32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
1:33 I didn’t recognise him, but he who sent me to baptise in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptises in the Holy Spirit.’
1:34 I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
1:35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,
1:36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
1:37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
1:38 Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”
1:39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.
1:40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
1:41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ).
1:42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).
