John 1:19-51

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 And this is the o testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, p "Who are you?" 20 q He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? r Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you s the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." 22 So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am t the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight 1 the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, u "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26 John answered them, v "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even w he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Behold, the Lamb of God

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, x the Lamb of God, who y takes away the sin z of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, a 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but b for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John c bore witness: d "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and e it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but f he who sent me to baptize g with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, h this is he who baptizes g with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, i the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, j "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, k "Rabbi" (which 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, for it was about the tenth hour. 2 40 l One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus 3 was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found m the Messiah" (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of n John? You shall be called o Cephas" (which means p Peter 4 ).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 q The next day Jesus decided r to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now s Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found t Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom u Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus v of Nazareth, w the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, x "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, y an Israelite indeed, z in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How a do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, b "Rabbi, c you are the Son of God! You are the d King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, '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, 5 you will see e heaven opened, and f the angels of God ascending and descending on g the Son of Man."

  1. Cross References
    John 3:26
    And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness - look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.
  2. Cross References
    John 8:25
    So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
  3. Cross References
    John 1:8
    He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
    John 3:28
    You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.
    Acts 13:25
    And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.
    Luke 3:15
    As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 11:14
    And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
    Matthew 16:14
    And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 18:15
    The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers - it is to him you shall listen -
    Deuteronomy 18:18
    I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
  6. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:3
    A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
    Matthew 3:3
    For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'
  7. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:3
    A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
  8. Cross References
    Matthew 3:6
    And they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
    Mark 1:4
    John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
    Luke 3:3
    And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
    Luke 3:7
    He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
  9. Cross References
    Matthew 3:11
    I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
    Mark 1:7 - 8
    And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
    Luke 3:16
    John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
    Acts 1:5
    For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
    Acts 13:25
    And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.
  10. Cross References
    John 1:15
    ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
    John 1:30
    This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.
  11. Cross References
    John 1:36
    And he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said...
    Exodus 12:3
    Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the...
    Isaiah 53:7
    He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he ...
    Acts 8:32
    Now the passage of the Scripture that he was re...
    1 Peter 1:19
    But with the precious blood of Christ, like tha...
    Genesis 22:8
    Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the...
    Revelation 5:6
    And between the throne and the four living crea...
  12. Cross References
    1 John 3:5
    You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
    Hebrews 10:4
    For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
    Hebrews 10:11
    And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
  13. Cross References
    John 3:16 - 17
    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
    John 4:42
    They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.
    John 12:47
    If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
    1 John 2:2
    He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
    1 John 4:14
    And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
  14. Cross References
    John 1:15
    ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
    John 1:27
    Even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.
  15. Cross References
    Luke 1:17
    And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.
    Luke 1:76 - 77
    And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.
  16. Cross References
    John 1:7
    He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
  17. Cross References
    Matthew 3:16
    And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.
    Mark 1:10
    And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
    Luke 3:22
    And the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.
  18. Cross References
    Isaiah 11:2
    And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
    Acts 10:38
    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
  19. Cross References
    John 1:6
    There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
    Luke 3:2
    During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
  20. Cross References
    John 3:5
    Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
  21. Cross References
    John 3:5
    Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 3:11
    I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
    Mark 1:8
    I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
    Luke 3:16
    John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
    Acts 1:5
    For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
  23. Cross References
    John 1:29
    The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
  24. Cross References
    John 18:4
    Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?
    John 18:7
    So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth.
    John 20:15
    Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.
  25. Cross References
    John 1:49
    Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son...
    John 3:2
    This man came to Jesus by night and said to him...
    John 3:26
    And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, ...
    John 6:25
    When they found him on the other side of the se...
    John 20:16
    Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said ...
    Mark 10:51
    And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to ...
  26. Cross References
    John 1:40 - 42
    One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
    Matthew 4:18 - 22
    While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
    Mark 1:16 - 20
    Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
    Luke 5:2 - 11
    And he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
  27. Cross References
    John 4:25
    The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.
  28. Cross References
    John 21:15 - 17
    When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs.
  29. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:12
    What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ.
    1 Corinthians 3:22
    Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours.
  30. Cross References
    Matthew 16:18
    And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
  31. Cross References
    John 1:35
    The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples.
    John 2:1
    On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
  32. Cross References
    John 1:28
    These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
  33. Cross References
    John 12:21
    So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
  34. Cross References
    John 21:2
    Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
  35. Cross References
    Luke 16:16
    The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
    Luke 24:27
    And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
  36. Cross References
    Matthew 2:23
    And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene.
  37. Cross References
    John 6:42
    They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven' ?
    Luke 3:23
    Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli.
  38. Cross References
    John 7:41
    Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?
    John 7:52
    They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.
  39. Cross References
    Psalms 73:1
    Book Three Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
    Romans 9:4
    They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
    Romans 9:6
    But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.
  40. Cross References
    Psalms 32:2
    Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
    Zephaniah 3:13
    Those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
    Revelation 14:5
    And in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
  41. Cross References
    John 2:24 - 25
    But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
  42. Cross References
    John 1:38
    Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?
  43. Cross References
    John 6:69
    And we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.
    John 11:27
    She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.
    John 20:28
    Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!
  44. Cross References
    John 12:13
    So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!
    Zephaniah 3:15
    The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.
    Matthew 27:11
    Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so.
    Matthew 27:42
    He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
    Zechariah 9:9
    Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
  45. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:1
    In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
    Matthew 3:16
    And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.
    Luke 3:21
    Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened.
  46. Cross References
    Genesis 28:12
    And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!
  47. Cross References
    Daniel 7:13
    I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.