Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



beginning from His baptism by John down to the day on which He was taken up again from us into Heaven--one should be appointed to become a witness with us as to His resurrection."

Then large numbers of people went out to him--people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley-- and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exclaimed, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath? read more.
Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart;

I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.

Just at that time Jesus, coming from Galilee to the Jordan, presents Himself to John to be baptized by him. John protested. "It is I," he said, "who have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" "Let it be so on this occasion," Jesus replied; "for so we ought to fulfil every religious duty." Then he consented; read more.
and Jesus was baptized, and immediately went up from the water. At that moment the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him,

John's Baptism, whence was it? --had it a heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. "If we say 'a heavenly origin,'" they argued, "he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

So John the Baptizer came, and was in the Desert proclaiming a baptism of the penitent for forgiveness of sins. There went out to him people of all classes from Judaea, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem of all ranks, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, making open confession of their sins.

I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan; and immediately on His coming up out of the water He saw an opening in the sky, and the Spirit like a dove coming down to Him;

John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."

Accordingly John used to say to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Live lives which shall prove your change of heart; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.

There came also a party of tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they asked him, "Rabbi, what are we to do?"

Now when all the people had been baptized, and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the sky opened,

And all the people, including the tax-gatherers, when they listened to him upheld the righteousness of God, by being baptized with John's baptism. But the Pharisees and expounders of the Law have frustrated God's purpose as to their own lives, by refusing to be baptized.

"was John's baptism of Heavenly or of human origin?"

Again they questioned him. "Why then do you baptize," they said, "if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?" "I baptize in water only," John answered, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not know--

This conversation took place at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

I did not yet know Him; but that He may be openly shown to Israel is the reason why I have come baptizing in water."

I did not yet know Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, "'The One on whom you see the Spirit coming down, and remaining, He it is who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'

And John too was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there were many pools of water there; and people came and received baptism.

Then He went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had been baptizing at first; and there He stayed.


the story, I mean, which has spread through the length and breadth of Judaea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed.

Then I remembered the Lord's words, how He used to say, "'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'

"Into what then were you baptized?" he asked. "Into John's baptism," they replied. "John," he said, "administered a baptism of repentance, bidding the people believe on One who was to come after him; namely, on Jesus."


"As for me," replied Jesus, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have continually taught in some synagogue or in the Temple where all the Jews are wont to assemble, and I have said nothing in secret.

They came again to Jerusalem; and as He was walking in the Temple, the High Priests, Scribes and Elders came to Him and asked, "By what authority are you doing these things? and who gave you authority to do them?" "And I will put a question to you," replied Jesus; "answer me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. read more.
John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin? Answer me." So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?' Or should we say, 'human?'" They were afraid of the people; for all agreed in holding John to have been really a Prophet. So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." "Nor do I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things."

But, while teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, "How is it the Scribes say that the Christ is a son of David? David himself said, taught by the Holy Spirit, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, until I have made thy foes a footstool under thy feet.' "David himself calls Him 'Lord:' how then can He be his son?" And the mass of people found pleasure in listening to Jesus. read more.
Moreover in the course of His teaching He said, "Be on your guard against the Scribes who like to walk about in long robes and to be bowed to in places of public resort, and to occupy the best seats in the synagogues and at dinner parties, and who swallow up the property of widows and then mask their wickedness by making long prayers: these men will receive far heavier punishment." Having taken a seat opposite the Treasury, He observed how the people were dropping money into the Treasury, and that many of the wealthy threw in large sums. But there came one poor widow and dropped in two farthings, equal in value to a halfpenny. So He called His disciples to Him and said, "In solemn truth I tell you that this widow, poor as she is, has thrown in more than all the other contributors to the Treasury; for they have all contributed out of what they could well spare, but she out of her need has thrown in all she possessed--all she had to live on."

Day after day I used to be among you in the Temple teaching, and you never seized me. But this is happening in order that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.'

Afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him, "You are now restored to health. Do not sin any more, or a worse thing may befall you." The man went and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had restored him to health; and on this account the Jews began to persecute Jesus--because He did these things on the Sabbath. read more.
His reply to their accusation was, "My Father works unceasingly, and so do I."

But when the Festival was already half over, Jesus went up to the Temple and commenced teaching. The Jews were astonished. "How does this man know anything of books," they said, "although he has never been at any of the schools?" Jesus answered their question by saying, "My teaching does not belong to me, but comes from Him who sent me. read more.
If any one is willing to do His will, he shall know about the teaching, whether it is from God or originates with me. The man whose teaching originates with himself aims at his own glory. He who aims at the glory of Him who sent him teaches the truth, and there is no deception in him. Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet not a man of you obeys the Law. Why do you want to kill me?" "You are possessed by a demon," replied the crowd; "no one wants to kill you." "One deed I have done," replied Jesus, "and you are all full of wonder. Consider therefore. Moses gave you the rite of circumcision (not that it began with Moses, but with your earlier forefathers) If a child is circumcised even on a Sabbath day, are you bitter against me because I have restored a man to perfect health on a Sabbath day? Do not form superficial judgements, but form the judgements that are just." Some however of the people of Jerusalem said, "Is not this the man they are wanting to kill? But here he is, speaking openly and boldly, and they say nothing to him! Can the Rulers really have ascertained that this man is the Christ? And yet we know this man, and we know where he is from; but as for the Christ, when He comes, no one can tell where He is from." Jesus therefore, while teaching in the Temple, cried aloud, and said, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. And yet I have not come of my own accord; but there is One who has sent me, an Authority indeed, of whom you have no knowledge.

and Jesus was walking in the Temple in Solomon's Portico, when the Jews gathered round Him and kept asking Him, "How long do you mean to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so plainly." "I have told you," answered Jesus, "and you do not believe. The deeds that I do in my Father's name--they give testimony about me. read more.
But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them the Life of the Ages, and they shall never, never perish, nor shall any one wrest them from my hand. What my Father has given me is more precious than all besides; and no one is able to wrest anything from my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." Again the Jews brought stones with which to stone Him. Jesus remonstrated with them. "Many good deeds," He said, "have I shown you as coming from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?" "For no good deed," the Jews replied, "are we going to stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, who are only a man, are making yourself out to be God." "Does it not stand written in your Law," replied Jesus, "'I said, you are gods'? If those to whom God's word was addressed are called gods (and the Scripture cannot be annulled) how is it that you say to one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am God's Son'? If the deeds I do are not my Father's deeds, do not believe me. But if they are, then even if you do not believe me, at least believe the deeds, that you may know and see clearly that the Father is in me, and that I am in the Father."