The Word became flesh, John the Baptist and the first disciples of Jesus - John 1

The Word made flesh

1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 - He was in the beginning with God.

3 - All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 - In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 - And the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.

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

7 - He came for a witness, that he might testify of the light, that all might believe on him.

8 - He was not the light, but that he might testify of the light.

9 - There was the true light, which enlightens every man that cometh into the world.

10 - He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 - He came to his own, and his own received him not.

12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become children of God, to them that believe on his name;

13 - Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 - And John testified of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is before me, for he was first of me.

16 - And we have all received of his fullness, and grace for grace.

17 - For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 - God was never seen by anyone. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed it.

The testimony of John the Baptist

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you?

20And he confessed and did not deny; he confessed: I am not the Christ.

21And they asked him, What then? Are you Elias? And he said, I am not. Are you your prophet? And he said, No.

22And they said unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to those who have sent us; What do you say about yourself?

23And I said, I am the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the LORD, as the prophet Isaiah spake.

24And they that were sent were of the Pharisees.

25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizeth, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?

26Joan answered them, saying, I baptize with water; but in the midst of you is one whom you do not know.

27 This is he that cometh after me, which is before me, of which I am not worthy to untie the sandal strap.

28 These things happened in Bethabara on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man that is before me, for he was first of me.

31And I did not know him; but in order that he might be made manifest to Israel, I came therefore by baptizing with water.

32 And John testified, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and resting on him.

33And I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize with water, he said unto me, Upon him that seeest the Spirit come down, and resteth on him, he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

34And I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.

The first disciples of Jesus

35 - And on the next day John was there again, and two of his disciples;

36 - And when he saw Jesus passing by, he said, Behold the Lamb of God.

37 - And the two disciples heard him say this, and followed Jesus.

38 - And when Jesus turned and saw them following, he said unto them, What seek ye? And they said, Rabbi (which, translated, meaning Master), where dost thou dwell?

39 - And he said unto them, Come, and see. They went, and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day; and it was almost the tenth hour.

40 And it was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, one of the two that heard that of John, and followed him.

41 - And he found his brother Simon first, and said unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is the Christ).

42 - And brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looked at him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonas: thou shalt be called Cephas (which is Peter).

43 - And the next day Jesus desired to go into Galilee, and found Philip, and said unto him, Follow me.

44 - And Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and of Peter.

45 - And Philip found Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the law, and the prophets, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph.

46 - Nathanael saith unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come, and see.

47 - And Jesus saw Nathanael come unto him, and said of him, Behold a true Israelite, in whom is no guile.

48 - Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, I saw thee, when thou wast under the fig tree.

49 - Nathanael answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.

50 - And Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Things greater than these you will see.

51 - And he said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, From henceforth ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.