15 John *(A)testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘(B)He who is coming after me has proved to be [a]my superior, (C)because He existed before me.’” 16 For of His (D)fullness [b]we have all received, and [c]grace upon grace. 17 For (E)the Law was given through Moses; (F)grace and (G)truth [d]were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 (H)No one has seen God at any time; (I)God the only Son, who is (J)in the [e]arms of the Father, (K)He has [f]explained Him.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 This is (L)the testimony of John, when (M)the Jews sent priests and Levites to him (N)from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny; and this is what he confessed: “(O)I am not the [g]Christ.” 21 And so they asked him, “What then? Are you (P)Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you (Q)the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am (R)the voice of one calling [h]out in the wilderness, ‘Make the way of the Lord straight,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24 And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the [i]Christ, nor Elijah, nor (S)the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “(T)I baptize [j]in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is (U)He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the (V)strap of His sandal.” 28 These things took place in Bethany (W)beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.

29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, (X)the Lamb of God who (Y)takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘(Z)After me is coming a Man who has proved to be [k]my superior, (AA)because He existed before me.’ 31 And I did not recognize [l]Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing [m]in water.” 32 And John (AB)testified, saying, “(AC)I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 And I did not recognize [n]Him, but He who sent me to baptize [o]in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, (AD)this is the One who baptizes [p]in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is (AE)the [q]Son of God.”

Jesus’ Public Ministry; First Converts

35 Again (AF)the next day John was standing [r]with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, (AG)the Lamb of God!” 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “(AH)Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39 He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day; it was about the [s]tenth hour. 40 (AI)One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first *found his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the (AJ)Messiah” (which translated means [t]Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of [u](AK)John; you shall be called (AL)Cephas” (which is translated [v](AM)Peter).

43 (AN)The next day He [w]decided to go to (AO)Galilee, and He *found (AP)Philip. And Jesus *said to him, (AQ)Follow Me.” 44 Now (AR)Philip was from (AS)Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 (AT)Philip *found (AU)Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom (AV)Moses wrote in the Law, and (AW)the prophets also wrote: Jesus (AX)the son of Joseph, from (AY)Nazareth!” 46 Nathanael said to him, “(AZ)Can anything good be from Nazareth?” (BA)Philip *said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Here is truly an (BB)Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael *said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before (BC)Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “(BD)Rabbi, You are (BE)the Son of God; You are the (BF)King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He *said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see (BG)heaven opened and (BH)the angels of God ascending and descending on (BI)the Son of Man.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. John 1:15 Lit before me
  2. John 1:16 Lit we all received
  3. John 1:16 Lit grace for grace
  4. John 1:17 Lit came to be
  5. John 1:18 Lit chest; or possibly lap
  6. John 1:18 I.e., given a detailed account of
  7. John 1:20 I.e., Messiah
  8. John 1:23 Or out, In the wilderness make the way
  9. John 1:25 I.e., Messiah
  10. John 1:26 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  11. John 1:30 Lit before me
  12. John 1:31 I.e., as the Messiah
  13. John 1:31 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  14. John 1:33 I.e., as the Messiah
  15. John 1:33 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  16. John 1:33 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  17. John 1:34 One early ms Chosen One of
  18. John 1:35 Lit and
  19. John 1:39 I.e., about 4 p.m.
  20. John 1:41 Gr Anointed One
  21. John 1:42 Gr Joannes
  22. John 1:42 I.e., Rock or Stone in Gr
  23. John 1:43 Or resolved

Bible Gateway Recommends