ISV(i)
15 John told the truth about him when he cried out, “This is the person about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me ranks higher than me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received one gracious gift after another from his abundance,
17 because while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God. The unique God, who is close to the Father’s side, has revealed him.
19The Testimony of John the Baptist
This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and descendants of Levi to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He spoke openly and, remaining true to himself, admitted, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 So they asked him, “Well then, are you Elijah?”
John said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 “Who are you?” they asked him. “We must give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 He replied, “I am ‘…a voice crying out in the wilderness, “Prepare the Lord’s highway,”’as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 Now those men had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why, then, are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I am baptizing with water, but among you stands a man whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This happened in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks above me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 John also testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The person on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen this and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
35The First DisciplesThe next day, John was standing there again with two of his disciples.
36 As he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
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20 He spoke openly and, remaining true to himself, admitted, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 So they asked him, “Well then, are you Elijah?”
John said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 “Who are you?” they asked him. “We must give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 He replied, “I am
24 Now those men had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why, then, are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I am baptizing with water, but among you stands a man whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This happened in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks above me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 John also testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The person on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen this and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
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