John the Baptist

35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

The next day John was standing there again with two of his followers.

36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

He saw Jesus walking by. He said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

The two followers heard him say it. So they went and followed Jesus.

38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked, "What are you looking for?" They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Rabbi means teacher.

39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

Jesus said, "Come and see." So they went and saw where he was staying. They spent the rest of the day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

One of the two men who heard John and followed Jesus was Andrew. He was Simon Peter's brother.

41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

The first thing Andrew did was find his brother Simon. He said, "We have found the Messiah!" Messiah means the Christ, the king God promised.

42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, the son of Jona. You will be called Cephas." Cephas means a stone.

22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

After this, Jesus and his followers went into the countryside of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized people, which means dipping them in water.

23And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

John was baptizing too, at a place called Aenon, near Salim. There was plenty of water there. People kept coming to be baptized.

24For John was not yet cast into prison.

This happened before John was put in prison.

25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

Then John's followers began to argue with a Jewish man. They argued about washing to become clean for God.

26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

They came to John and said, "Teacher, remember the man who was with you across the Jordan River? You told us about him. Now he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

John answered, "A person can only have what God in heaven gives him.

28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

You heard me say it yourselves. I am not the Christ, God's chosen King. I was sent ahead of him.

29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

The bride belongs to the bridegroom, the man she is marrying. The bridegroom's friend stands nearby and listens for him. He is very glad when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That gladness is mine, and now it is full.

30He must increase, but I must decrease.

He must become greater. I must become smaller.

31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

The One who comes from above is over everyone. Anyone who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The One who comes from heaven is over everyone.

32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

He tells what he has seen and heard. But no one accepts what he says.

33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

Whoever does accept it has shown that God tells the truth.

34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

God sent him, so he speaks God's own words. God gives him the Spirit fully, with no limit.

35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

The Father loves the Son. He has put everything into his hands.

36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Whoever believes in the Son has life that lasts forever. Whoever says no to the Son will not see that life. God's anger stays on him.

33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

"You sent men to ask John, and John told the truth."

34But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

"I do not need people to speak for me. I say this so that you can be saved."

35He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

"John was like a lamp that burned and gave light. For a while you were glad to enjoy his light."

36But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

"But I have something stronger than what John said. My Father gave me work to finish. The work I am doing shows that the Father sent me."

40And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

He went back across the Jordan River. He stayed where John first baptized people in the water.

41And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

Many people came to him there. They said, "John never did a miracle. But everything John said about this man is true."

42And many believed on him there.

And many people there believed in Jesus.

24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Before Jesus began his work, John told all the people of Israel to turn away from their sins. He baptized them, which means he washed them in water to show their hearts had changed.

25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

As John was finishing his work, he said, "Who do you think I am? I am not the one you are waiting for. Someone is coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his shoes."

1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Apollos was in the city of Corinth at this time. Paul traveled through the hill country. He came to the city of Ephesus. There he found some followers of Jesus.

2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Paul asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said, "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" Baptism means being dipped in water to show a fresh start. They said, "The baptism John taught."

4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Paul said, "John baptized people who were turning away from wrong. He told them to believe in the one coming after him. That one is Jesus."

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Paul put his hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them. They spoke in other languages. They also spoke messages from God.

7And all the men were about twelve.

There were about twelve men in all.