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?’

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— 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?’

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 beginning of the Good News 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,‘ Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.He preached, saying,“ After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.A voice came out of the sky,“ You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus answered them,“ I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.

In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,“ Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them,“ You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!Don’t think to yourselves,‘ We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.“ Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

John testified about him. He cried out, saying,“ This was he of whom I said,‘ He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”

They reasoned with themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say,‘ Why didn’t you believe him?’

He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins.As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness,‘ Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth.All flesh will see God’s salvation.’”He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him,“ You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves,‘ We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones!Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.”The multitudes asked him,“ What then must we do?”He answered them,“ He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him,“ Teacher, what must we do?”He said to them,“ Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”Soldiers also asked him, saying,“ What about us? What must we do?” He said to them,“ Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,John answered them all,“ I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people,but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.

“ For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.“ To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call to one another, saying,‘ We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’For John the Baptizer 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,‘ Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’Wisdom is justified by all her children.”

They came to John and said to him,“ Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”John answered,“ A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.You yourselves testify 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. This, my joy, therefore is made full.He must increase, but I must decrease.He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

As these went their way, 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 in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much 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.’Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.From the days of John the Baptizer 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.If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

They asked him,“ Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”John answered them,“ I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.The next day, he saw Jesus coming to 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 didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”John testified, saying,“ I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me,‘ On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

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 began saying to him,“ By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”Jesus said to them,“ I will ask you one question. 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.”They reasoned with themselves, saying,“ If we should say,‘ From heaven;’ he will say,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’If we should say,‘ From men’”— they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.They answered Jesus,“ We don’t know.” Jesus said to them,“ Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

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

His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,“ Blessed be the Lord, the 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 from of old),salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,the oath which he swore to Abraham, our father,to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, 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,because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke,“ Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again,“ He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.Nevertheless even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue,for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.

You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?“ Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.But the angel said to him,“ Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.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 he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.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 prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.