And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say,‘ Then why did you not believe him?’

他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来’，他必说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来的’，他会说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来的’，他会说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

他们彼此议论说：“如果我们说‘是从天上来的’，祂一定会问，‘那你们为什么不信他？’

他们就彼此议论：“如果我们说‘是从天上来的’，他就会说‘那你们为什么不信他呢？’

他们就彼此讨论，说：“如果我们说‘是来自天上’，他就会问‘那么你们为什么不相信他呢？’

他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來』，他必說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來的』，他會說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來的』，他會說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

他們彼此議論說：「如果我們說『是從天上來的』，祂一定會問，『那你們為什麼不信他？』

他們就彼此議論：“如果我們說‘是從天上來的’，他就會說‘那你們為甚麼不信他呢？’

他們彼此議論說：『我們若說由於天，他就會說，那你們為甚麼不信他？

他們就彼此討論，說：「如果我們說『是來自天上』，他就會問『那麼你們為什麼不相信他呢？』

其人竊議曰、若云自天、彼必曰、曷不信之、

其人竊議曰、若云由天、彼必曰、曷不信之、

其人竊議曰、若云自天、彼必云、何不信之、

若輩竊議曰：『如云自天、必曰何不信之。

They discussed it among themselves and said,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will ask,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

They talked to each other about it. They said,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will ask,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

And they discussed it with one another, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

They talked it over among themselves.“ If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John.

They discussed it among themselves:“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

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

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

They began to argue among themselves:“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

They discussed with one another, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say,‘ Then why did you not believe him?’

They reasoned with themselves, saying,“ If we should say,‘ From heaven;’ he will say,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

The next day he* saw Jesus coming to him, and* said,“ Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

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.’ ”

and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and* said,“ Behold, the Lamb of God!”

He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.He must increase, but I must decrease.“ He who comes from above is above all; the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.What He has seen and heard, of this He testifies; and no one accepts His testimony.The one who has accepted His testimony has certified that God is true.For He whom God sent speaks the words of God; for He does not give the Spirit sparingly.The Father loves the Son and has entrusted all things to His hand.The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about 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 dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces!But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.This is the one about whom it is written:‘ Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one 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 has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force.For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

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?’But if we say,‘ From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.”And answering Jesus, they said,“ We do not know.” He also said to them,“ Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They* said,“ The first.” Jesus* said to them,“ Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even have second thoughts afterward so as to believe him.

And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”