There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

John gave testimony concerning Him and cried aloud, saying, "This is He of whom I said, 'He who is coming after me has been put before me,' for He was before me."

This also is John's testimony, when the Jews sent to him a deputation of Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him who he was.

"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.

The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Look, that is the Lamb of God who is to take away the sin of the world!

John also gave testimony by stating: "I have seen the Spirit coming down like a dove out of Heaven; and it remained upon 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's exclamation and followed Jesus.

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, son of John: you shall be called Cephas" --that is to say, Peter (or 'Rock')

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

(For John was not yet in prison.)

As the result, a discussion having arisen on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification,

they came to John and reported to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan and to whom you bore testimony is now baptizing, and great numbers of people are resorting to him."

"A man cannot obtain anything," replied John, "unless it has been granted to him from Heaven.

Now as soon as the Master was aware that the Pharisees had heard it said, "Jesus is gaining and baptizing more disciples than John"--

"You sent to John, and he both was and still is a witness to the truth.

"But the testimony which I have is weightier than that of John; for the work the Father has assigned to me for me to bring it to completion--the very work which I am doing--affords testimony concerning me that the Father has sent me.

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.

Large numbers of people also came to Him. Their report was, "John did not work any miracle, but all that John said about this Teacher was true."

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" "Yes, Master," was his answer; "you know that you are dear to me." "Then feed my lambs," replied Jesus.

Again a second time He asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master," he said, "you know that you are dear to me." "Then be a shepherd to my sheep," He said.

A third time Jesus put the question: "Simon, son of John, am I dear to you?" It grieved Peter that Jesus asked him the third time, "Am I dear to you?" "Master," he replied, "you know everything, you can see that you are dear to me." "Then feed my much-loved sheep," said Jesus.