The baptism of John— where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say to us,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

约翰的洗礼是从哪里来的？是从天上来的？是从人间来的呢？”他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来’，他必对我们说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

约翰的洗礼是从哪里来的？是从天上来的，还是从人间来的呢？”他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来的’，他会对我们说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

约翰的洗礼是从哪里来的？是从天上来的，还是从人间来的呢？”他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来的’，他会对我们说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

约翰的洗礼是从哪里来的？从天上来的，还是从人来的？”他们便彼此议论说：“如果我们说‘是从天上来的’，祂一定会问我们，‘那你们为什么不信他？’

约翰的洗礼是从哪里来的呢？是从天上来的，还是从人来的呢？”他们就彼此议论：“如果我们说‘是从天上来的’，他会问我们‘那你们为什么不信他呢？’

约翰的洗礼是从哪里来的？是来自天上，还是来自人间呢？”他们就彼此讨论，说：“如果我们说‘是来自天上’，他就会问我们‘那么你们为什么不相信他呢？’

約翰的洗禮是從哪裏來的？是從天上來的？是從人間來的呢？」他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來』，他必對我們說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

約翰的洗禮是從哪裏來的？是從天上來的，還是從人間來的呢？」他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來的』，他會對我們說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

約翰的洗禮是從哪裏來的？是從天上來的，還是從人間來的呢？」他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來的』，他會對我們說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

約翰的洗禮是從哪裡來的？從天上來的，還是從人來的？」他們便彼此議論說：「如果我們說『是從天上來的』，祂一定會問我們，『那你們為什麼不信他？』

約翰的洗禮是從哪裡來的呢？是從天上來的，還是從人來的呢？”他們就彼此議論：“如果我們說‘是從天上來的’，他會問我們‘那你們為甚麼不信他呢？’

約翰的洗禮是從哪裏來的？是由於天呢？還是由於人呢？』他們就彼此議論說：『我們若說「由於天」呢，他就會對我們說：「那你們為甚麼不信他？」

約翰的洗禮是從哪裡來的？是來自天上，還是來自人間呢？」他們就彼此討論，說：「如果我們說『是來自天上』，他就會問我們『那麼你們為什麼不相信他呢？』

約翰之洗自奚、自天乎、自人乎、眾竊議曰、若云自天、彼必曰、曷不信之、

約翰施洗、由天乎、由人乎、眾竊議曰、若云由天、彼必曰、曷不信之、

約翰之施洗何自、自天乎、自人乎、眾竊議曰、若云自天、彼必曰、然則何不信之、

夫如望之洗、何自而來、自天乎、自人乎？』若輩私議曰：

John’s baptism— where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will ask,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

Where did John’s baptism come from? Was it from heaven? Or did it come from human authority?” They talked to one another about it. They said,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will ask,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say to us,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

“ Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves.“ If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John.

Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say to us,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

The baptism of John was from what source: from heaven or from men?” And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say to us,‘ Then why did you not believe him?’

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?” They began to argue among themselves,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say to us,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say,‘ Then why did you not believe him?’

The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will ask us,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.As it is written in the Prophets:“ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.”“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’”John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.And he preached, saying,“ There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.Then a voice came from heaven,“ You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus answered them,“ I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,and saying,“ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’”Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to himand were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,“ Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,and do not think to say to yourselves,‘ We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.I indeed baptize you with water unto 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.His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying,“ This was He of whom I said,‘ He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

“ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth;And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,“ Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves,‘ We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”So the people asked him, saying,“ What shall we do then?”He answered and said to them,“ He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him,“ Teacher, what shall we do?”And he said to them,“ Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying,“ And what shall we do?” So he said to them,“ Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,John answered, saying to all,“ I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.And the Lord said,“ To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:‘ We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.’For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say,‘ He has a demon.’The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say,‘ Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

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 are coming to Him!”John answered and said,“ A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.You yourselves bear me witness, that I said,‘ I am not the Christ,’ but,‘ I have been sent before Him.’He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.He must increase, but I must decrease.He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.For this is he of whom it is written:‘ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’“ Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

And they asked him, saying,“ Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”John answered them, saying,“ I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,“ Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!This is He of whom I said,‘ After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”And John bore witness, saying,“ I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me,‘ Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.And they said to Him,“ By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”But Jesus answered and said to them,“ I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:The baptism of John— was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”And they reasoned among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’But if we say,‘ From men’”— they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.So they answered and said to Jesus,“ We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them,“ Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:“ Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.“ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:“ Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:“ He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish— the very works that I do— bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you— Moses, in whom you trust.For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.But the angel said to him,“ Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord.”

But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.