A man appeared, sent by God, whose name was John:

(John testified to him with the cry, 'This was he of whom I said, my successor has taken precedence of me, for he preceded me.')

Now here is John's testimony. When the Jews of Jerusalem despatched priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"

"I am baptizing with water," John replied, "but my successor is among you, One whom you do not recognize,

This took place at Bethany on the opposite side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

And John bore this testimony also: "I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven and rest on him.

Next day again John was standing with two of his disciples;

One of the two men who heard what John said and went after Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Peter.

He took him to Jesus; Jesus gazed at him and said, "You are Simon, the son of John? Your name is to be Cephas" (meaning 'Peter' or 'rock').

John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, as there was plenty of water there, and people came to him and were baptized

(John had not yet been thrown into prison).

Now a dispute arose between John's disciples and a Jew over the question of 'purification';

and they came and told John, "Rabbi, the man who was with you on the opposite side of the Jordan, the man to whom you bore testimony ??here he is, baptizing, and everybody goes to him!"

John answered, "No one can receive anything except as a gift from heaven.

Now when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had heard of Jesus gaining and baptizing more disciples than John

You sent to John, and he bore testimony to the truth

But I possess a testimony greater than that of John, for the deeds which the Father has granted me to accomplish, the very deeds on which I am engaged, are my testimony that the Father has sent me.

and went across the Jordan, back to the spot where John had baptized at first. There he stayed;

and many came to him, saying, "John did not perform any Sign, but all he ever said about this man was true."

Then after breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others do?" "Why, Lord," he said, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," said Jesus.

Again he asked him, for the second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Why, Lord," he said, "you know I love you." "Then be a shepherd to my sheep," said Jesus.

For the third time he asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Now Peter was vexed at being asked a third time, "Do you love me?" So he replied; "Lord, you know everything, you can see I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep.