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

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 began considering the implications among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say,‘ Then why did you not 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 John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said,“ Look! The Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world!

John was a witness about the Word. John cried out and said,“ This was the one I was talking about. I said,‘ He who comes after me is more important than I am. He is more important because he existed before I was born.’ ”

He saw Jesus walking by. John said,“ Look! The Lamb of God!”

The bride belongs to the groom. The friend who helps the groom waits and listens for him. He is full of joy when he hears the groom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.He must become more important. I must become less important.“ The one who comes from above is above everything. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks like someone from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above everything.He is a witness to what he has seen and heard. But no one accepts what he says.Anyone who has accepted it has said,‘ Yes. God is truthful.’The one whom God has sent speaks God’s words. That’s because God gives the Holy Spirit without limit.The Father loves the Son and has put everything into his hands.Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life. Anyone who does not believe in the Son will not have life. God’s anger remains on them.”

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said,“ What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind?If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. People who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.He is the one written about in Scripture. It says,“‘ I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way for you.’( Malachi 3:1)What I’m about to tell you is true. No one more important than John the Baptist has ever been born. But the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is more important than he is.Since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven has been under attack. And violent people are taking hold of it.All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came.If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was supposed to come.

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?’But what if we say,‘ From human authority’? We are afraid of the people. Everyone believes that John was a prophet.”So they answered Jesus,“ We don’t know.” Jesus said,“ Then I won’t tell you by what authority I am doing these things either.

“ Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?”“ The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them,“ What I’m about to tell you is true. Tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you.John came to show you the right way to live. And you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. You saw this. But even then you did not turn away from your sins and believe him.

I have seen it happen. I am a witness that this is God’s Chosen One.”