The Beginning
(Hebrews 11:1–3)

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3By Him were all things made, and without Him was not any 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 attained it not.

The Witness of John

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John: 7this man came for witness, that he might testify concerning the light, that through him all might believe. 8He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of the light.

9The true light was that which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and yet the world knew Him not: 11yea, He came to his own peculiar right, and even his own people received Him not. 12But as many as received Him, to them granted He the privilege to become the children of God, even to them that 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 was made flesh, and dwelt among us, being full of grace and truth: and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father. 15Of Him did John bare witness, and publicly declared, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for He was before me. 16And of his fulness have we all received, even grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ: 18and though no one hath ever seen God, or can see Him: yet the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, hath made Him known.

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 to ask him, Who art thou? 20he confessed, and denied not; but declared openly, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? art thou Elias? And he said, I am not. Art thou a prophet? and he answered, No. 22Therefore said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us: What dost thou say of thy self? 23and he said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord," according to Esaias the prophet.

24Now they that were sent, were of the pharisees: 25and they asked him, and said to him, Why then dost thou baptize, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elias, nor a prophet? 26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27that cometh after me, but is preferred before me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things passed at Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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

29The next day John seeth Jesus coming towards him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man, who is preferred before me: for He was before me. 31And I knew Him not: but therefore came I baptizing with water, that He might be made known to Israel. 32And John testified saying, I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it abode upon Him. 33And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, the same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. 34And I saw it, and therefore testified that this is the Son of God.

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

35The day following John was standing, (and two of his disciples,) 36and looking upon Jesus as He was walking, he saith, "Behold the lamb of God." 37And when the two disciples heard what he said, they followed Jesus. 38And Jesus turning, and seeing them following Him, saith unto them, What do ye seek? They said unto Him, Rabbi (that is to say, Master,) where is thine abode? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. And they came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: and it was about the tenth hour. 40Now Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two that heard what John said, and thereupon followed Jesus. 41He first meeteth with his own brother Simon, and telleth him, "We have found the Messiah, which is to say, the Christ." 42And Andrew brought him to Jesus: and Jesus looking at him said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonas, thou shalt be called Cephas; which is interpreted a stone.

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43The day following Jesus had a mind to go out into Galilee, and meeting with Philip, saith unto him, Follow me. 44Now Philip was of Bethsaida the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip meeting Nathaniel, saith unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and of whom the prophets also wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Jeseph. 46And Nathaniel said unto him, Can any thing good come out of Nazareth? Philip replied, Come and see. 47And when Jesus saw Nathaniel coming towards Him, He saith concerning him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." 48Nathaniel saith unto Him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called thee, I saw thee, when under the fig-tree. 49Nathaniel replied, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the king of Israel. 50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I told thee that I saw thee under the fig-tree, thou believest: thou shalt see greater things than these. 51And He saith unto him, Verily verily I say unto you, Ye shall hereafter see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.