There appeared a man named John, sent from God.

John testified to Him and cried out, for this was the one who said, "The One who is coming after me has been put before me, because He existed before me."

Now this is the testimony which John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem, to ask him, "Who are you?"

John answered them, "I am baptizing only in water. There is standing among you One with whom you are not acquainted.

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

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said, "Look! He is the Lamb of God who is to take away the world's sin.

Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him.

Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.

Then he took him to Jesus. Jesus looked him over and said, "You are Simon, son of John. From now on your name shall be Cephas" (which means Peter, or Rock).

But John too was baptizing people at Aenon, near Salim, for there was plenty of water there, and so the people were coming and being baptized.

(For John had not yet been put in prison.)

Then a discussion came up between John's disciples and a Jew about purification.

And they went to John and said to him, "Teacher, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, to whom you bore testimony yourself, is baptizing people and everybody is going to Him."

John answered, "A man cannot get anything, unless it is given to him from heaven.

Now when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had heard that He was winning and baptizing more disciples than John --

You yourselves sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

John was the lamp that kept on burning and shining, and you decided for a time to delight yourselves in his light.

But I have testimony that is higher than John's, for the works which my Father has committed to me to finish, the very works that I am doing, testify to me that the Father has sent me;

He again crossed the Jordan at the place where John at first used to baptize, and there He stayed.

And many people came to Him and kept on saying, "John did not perform any wonder-works, but everything he ever said about this man was true."

After they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, are you more devoted to me than you are to these things?" Peter answered Him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I tenderly love you." Jesus said to him, "Then feed my lambs."

Jesus again said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, are you really devoted to me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I tenderly love you." Jesus said to him, "Then be a shepherd to my sheep."

For the third time Jesus asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you really tenderly love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus the third time asked him, "Do you really tenderly love me?" So he answered Him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I do tenderly love you." Jesus said to him, "Then feed my sheep.