The Beginning (Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)
2 AKJV The same was in the beginning with God. BSB BSB: He was with God in the beginning.
4 AKJV In him was life; and the life was the light of men. BSB BSB: In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5 AKJV And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. BSB BSB: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Witness of John 7 AKJV The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. BSB BSB: He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
8 AKJV He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. BSB BSB: He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 AKJV That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. BSB BSB: The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 AKJV He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. BSB BSB: He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
11 AKJV He came to his own, and his own received him not. BSB BSB: He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 AKJV But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: BSB BSB: But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
13 AKJV Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. BSB BSB: children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
The Word Became Flesh (Psalm 84:1–12)
15 AKJV John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. BSB BSB: John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
16 AKJV And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. BSB BSB: From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
17 AKJV For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20)
19 AKJV And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? BSB BSB: And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 AKJV And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. BSB BSB: He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
22 AKJV Then said they to him, Who are you? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What say you of yourself? BSB BSB: So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 AKJV He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah. BSB BSB: John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
24 AKJV And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. BSB BSB: Then the Pharisees who had been sent
25 AKJV And they asked him, and said to him, Why baptize you then, if you be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? BSB BSB: asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 AKJV John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom you know not; BSB BSB: “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.
27 AKJV He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s lace I am not worthy to unloose. BSB BSB: He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 AKJV These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. BSB BSB: All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jesus the Lamb of God (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)
29 AKJV The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. BSB BSB: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 AKJV This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. BSB BSB: This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’
31 AKJV And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. BSB BSB: I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
32 AKJV And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it stayed on him. BSB BSB: Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
33 AKJV And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, On whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. BSB BSB: I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
34 AKJV And I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of God. BSB BSB: I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
The First Disciples (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11)
35 AKJV Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; BSB BSB: The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
36 AKJV And looking on Jesus as he walked, he says, Behold the Lamb of God! BSB BSB: When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 AKJV And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. BSB BSB: And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
38 AKJV Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and says to them, What seek you? They said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwell you? BSB BSB: Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”
39 AKJV He says to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelled, and stayed with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. BSB BSB: “Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.
40 AKJV One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. BSB BSB: Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.
41 AKJV He first finds his own brother Simon, and says to him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. BSB BSB: He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).
42 AKJV And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, You are Simon the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. BSB BSB: Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 AKJV The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and finds Philip, and says to him, Follow me. BSB BSB: The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
45 AKJV Philip finds Nathanael, and says to him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. BSB BSB: Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 AKJV And Nathanael says to him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. BSB BSB: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
47 AKJV Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! BSB BSB: When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”
48 AKJV Nathanael says to him, From where know you me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before that Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. BSB BSB: “How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
49 AKJV Nathanael answered and says to him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel. BSB BSB: “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 AKJV Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, believe you? you shall see greater things than these. BSB BSB: Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
51 AKJV And he says to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man. BSB BSB: Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”