The Beginning
(Hebrews 11:1–3)

1IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not one thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The Witness of John

6A man was sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came for a witness, that he might bear testimony concerning the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not the Light, but sent that he should bear testimony concerning the Light.

9He was that true Light, which illumines every man by his coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his peculiar people, and his peculiar people did not receive him. 12But as many as did receive him, on them he bestowed authority to become children of God, even on those who believe on his name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Became Flesh

14And the Word became incarnate, and tabernacled with us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bore witness concerning him, and cried, saying, This is he of whom I said, He that is coming after me, is before me: because before me he was. 16And from his plenitude we all have received, even grace corresponding with his grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but the grace and the reality came by Jesus Christ. 18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath thoroughly described him.

The Mission of John the Baptist
(Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20)

19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites, that they should question him, Who art thou? 20And he confessed, and denied it not; but acknowledged, I am not the Messiah. 21And they asked him, What then? art thou Elias? and he said, I am not. Art thou that prophet? and he answered, No. 22Then said they to him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to those who sent us: What description givest thou of thyself? 23He said, I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way for the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah.

24And they who were sent, were of the Pharisees. 25And they questioned him, and said to him, Why then dost thou baptise, if thou be not the Messiah, nor Elias, nor that prophet? 26John answered them, saying, I baptise with water: but in the midst of you hath stood a person, whom ye have not known; 27it is he, though coming after me, who was before me, the thong of whole sandal I am not worthy to untie. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptising.

Jesus the Lamb of God
(Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)

29The next day John seeth Jesus coming to him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world, 30This is he of whom I spake, After me cometh a man who was before me: for before me he existed. 31And I knew him not: though that he might be manifested to Israel, therefore am I come baptising with water. 32And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it rested upon him. 33And I did not know him: but he that sent me baptising with water, he said to me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending as a dove, and resting upon him, that is he who baptiseth with the Holy Ghost. 34And I have seen it, and have borne testimony that this is the Son of God.

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11)

35On the morrow John was again standing with two of his disciples; 36and looking upon Jesus as he walked by, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned about, and seeing them following, saith to them, What are ye seeking? They said unto him, Rabbi (which signifies, when translated, Master), where is thy abode? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he abode, and continued with him that day: and it was about the tenth hour. 40One of the two, who had heard from John mention of Jesus, and had followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter?s brother. 41He first finds his own brother Simon, and saith to him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being translated, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus. Then Jesus looking on him, said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonas: thou shalt be called Cephas, which, interpreted in Greek, is Petros, a Rock.

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43The next day Jesus resolved to go into Galilee, and he findeth Philip, and saith to him, Follow me. 44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith to him, We have found him whom Moses in the law has described, and the prophets, Jesus the son of Joseph, who is of Nazareth. 46And Nathaniel said to him, Can any thing good come out of Nazareth? Philip saith to him, Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite in reality, in whom there is no guile! 48Nathaniel saith unto him, From whence canst thou know me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. 49Nathaniel answered and said to him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the king of Israel. 50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said to thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, dost thou believe? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51And he saith to him, Verily, verily, I tell you, From henceforth ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.