John 1:19–34

John the Baptist’s Testimony

19 This is John’s testimony when the * Jews from Jerusalem d sent priests e and Levites f to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: “I am not the * Messiah.” g

21 “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?” h

“I am not,” he said.

“Are you the Prophet?” i j

“No,” he answered.

22 “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”

23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord k l—just as Isaiah m the prophet said.”

24 Now they had been sent from the * Pharisees. n 25 So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with o water,” p John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know Him. 27 He is the One coming after me, q r whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.”

28 All this happened in Bethany s across the Jordan, t u where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, v who takes away the sin w of the world! 30 This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know Him, x but I came baptizing with y water so He might be revealed z to Israel.”

32 And John testified, “I watched the Spirit a descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him. b 33 I didn’t know Him, but He c who sent me to baptize with d water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on—He is the One who baptizes with e the Holy Spirit.’ f 34 I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!” g h