Study Desk

"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John came; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

"Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?"

"But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, since they are convinced that John was a prophet."

And so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it."

A man came, one sent from God, and his name was John.

John testified about Him and called out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.'"

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

John answered them, saying, "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.

And John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).

Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized—

for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him."

John replied, "A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

So then, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John

"You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth.

"But the testimony I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.