The Beginning

(Genesis 1:1-2)

1In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things received being through him, and without him not one [thing] received being which has received being. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.

The Witness of John

(Malachi 3:1-5)

6There was a man sent from God, his name John. 7He came for witness, that he might witness concerning the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but that he might witness concerning the light.

9The true light was that which, coming into the world, lightens every man. 10He was in the world, and the world had [its] being through him, and the world knew him not. 11He came to his own, and his own received him not; 12but as many as received him, to them gave he [the] right to be children of God, to those that believe on his name; 13who have been born, not of blood, nor of flesh's will, nor of man's will, but of God.

The Word Made His Dwelling among Us

(Psalm 84:1-12)

14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth; 15(John bears witness of him, and he has cried, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me;) 16for of his fulness we all have received, and grace upon grace. 17For the law was given by Moses: grace and truth subsists through Jesus Christ. 18No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20)

19And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites that they might ask him, Thou, who art thou? 20And he acknowledged and denied not, and acknowledged, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he says, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. 22They said therefore to him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23He said, I [am] [the] voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the path of [the] Lord, as said Esaias the prophet.

24And they were sent from among the Pharisees. 25And they asked him and said to him, Why baptisest thou then, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet? 26John answered them saying, I baptise with water. In the midst of you stands, whom ye do not know, 27he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things took place in Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptising.

Behold, the Lamb of God

(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22)

29On the morrow he sees Jesus coming to him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. 30He it is of whom I said, A man comes after me who takes a place before me, because he was before me; 31and I knew him not; but that he might be manifested to Israel, therefore have I come baptising with water. 32And John bore witness, saying, I beheld the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it abode upon him. 33And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptise with water, he said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding on him, he it is who baptises with [the] Holy Spirit. 34And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

(Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 13:47-52; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11)

35Again, on the morrow, there stood John and two of his disciples. 36And, looking at Jesus as he walked, he says, Behold the Lamb of God. 37And the two disciples heard him speaking, and followed Jesus. 38But Jesus having turned, and seeing them following, says to them, What seek ye? And they said to him, Rabbi (which, being interpreted, signifies Teacher), where abidest thou? 39He says to them, Come and see. They went therefore, and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. 40Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard [this] from John and followed him. 41He first finds his own brother Simon, and says to him, We have found the Messias (which being interpreted is Christ). 42And he led him to Jesus. Jesus looking at him said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas (which interpreted is stone).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43On the morrow he would go forth into Galilee, and Jesus finds Philip, and says to him, Follow me. 44And Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip finds Nathanael, and says to him, We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the law, and the prophets, Jesus, the son of Joseph, who is from Nazareth. 46And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip says to him, Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, Behold [one] truly an Israelite, in whom there is no guile. 48Nathanael says to him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. 49Nathanael answered and said to him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. 50Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. 51And he says to him, Verily, verily, I say to you, Henceforth ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man.