There appeared a man sent from God, whose name was John;

(John bears witness to him; he cried aloud--for it was he who spoke--"'He who is Coming' after me is now before me, for he was ever first");

When the Jews sent some Priests and Levites to John from Jerusalem, to ask--"Who are you?", his statement was this:

John's answer was--"I baptize with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know;

All this took place at Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was then baptizing.

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

John also made this statement--"I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of the heavens, and it remained upon him.

The next day, when John was standing with two of his disciples,

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

Then he brought him to Jesus. Fixing his eyes on him, Jesus said: "You are Simon, the son of John; you shall be called Kephas" (which means 'Peter,' or 'Rock').

John, also, was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there were many streams there; and people were constantly coming and being baptized.

(For John had not yet been imprisoned).

Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew on the subject of 'purification;'

And the disciples came to John and said: "Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony--he, also, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him."

John's answer was--"A man can gain nothing but what is given him from Heaven.

Now, when the Master heard that the Pharisees had been told that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John

You have yourselves sent to John, and he as testified to the Truth.

But the testimony which I have is of greater weight than John's; for the work that the Father has given me to carry out-- the work that I am doing--is in itself proof that the Father has sent me as his Messenger.

Then Jesus again crossed the Jordan to the place where John used to baptize at first, and stayed there some time, during which many people came to see him.

"John gave no sign of his mission," they said; "but everything that he said about this man was true."

When breakfast was over, Jesus said to Simon Peter: "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others?" "Yes, Master," he answered, "you know that I am your friend." "Feed my lambs," said Jesus.

Then, a second time, Jesus asked: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master," he answered, "you know that I am your friend." "Tend my sheep," said Jesus.

The third time, Jesus said to him: "Simon, son of John, are you my friend?" Peter was hurt at his third question being 'Are you my friend?'; and exclaimed: "Master, you know everything! You can tell that I am your friend." "Feed my sheep," said Jesus.