Jesus’ Departure

24:50 Then126 Jesus127 led them out as far as Bethany,128 and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 24:51 Now129 during the blessing130 he departed131 and was taken up into heaven.132 24:52 So133 they worshiped134 him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,135 24:53 and were continually in the temple courts136 blessing137 God.138

John

The Prologue to the Gospel

1:1 In the beginning1 was the Word, and the Word was with God,2 and the Word was fully God.3 1:2 The Word4 was with God in the beginning. 1:3 All things were created5 by him, and apart from him not one thing was created6 that has been created.7 1:4 In him was life,8 and the life was the light of mankind.9 1:5 And the light shines on10 in the darkness,11 but12 the darkness has not mastered it.13

1:6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John.14 1:7 He came as a witness15 to testify16 about the light, so that everyone17 might believe through him. 1:8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify18 about the light. 1:9 The true light, who gives light to everyone,19 was coming into the world.20 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was created21 by him, but22 the world did not recognize23 him. 1:11 He came to what was his own,24 but25 his own people26 did not receive him.27 1:12 But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name28—he has given the right to become God’s children 1:13—children not born29 by human parents30 or by human desire31 or a husband’s32 decision,33 but by God.

1:14 Now34 the Word became flesh35 and took up residence36 among us. We37 saw his glory—the glory of the one and only,38 full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 1:15 John39 testified40 about him and shouted out,41 “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am,42 because he existed before me.’ ” 1:16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.43 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but44 grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only one,45 himself God, who is in closest fellowship with46 the Father, has made God47 known.48

The Testimony of John the Baptist

1:19 Now49 this was50 John’s51 testimony52 when the Jewish leaders53 sent54 priests and Levites from Jerusalem55 to ask him, “Who are you?”56 1:20 He confessed—he did not deny but confessed—“I am not the Christ!”57 1:21 So they asked him, “Then who are you?58 Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!”59 “Are you the Prophet?”60 He answered, “No!” 1:22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us61 so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

1:23 John62 said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight63 the way for the Lord,’64 as Isaiah the prophet said.” 1:24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.65)66 1:25 So they asked John,67 “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ,68 nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

1:26 John answered them,69 “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize,70 1:27 who is coming after me. I am not worthy71 to untie the strap72 of his sandal!” 1:28 These things happened in Bethany73 across the Jordan River74 where John was baptizing.

1:29 On the next day John75 saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God76 who takes away the sin of the world! 1:30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am,77 because he existed before me.’ 1:31 I did not recognize78 him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”79

1:32 Then80 John testified,81 “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove82 from heaven,83 and it remained on him.84 1:33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 1:34 I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”85

1:35 Again the next day John86 was standing there87 with two of his disciples. 1:36 Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”88 1:37 When John’s89 two disciples heard him say this,90 they followed Jesus.91 1:38 Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, “What do you want?”92 So they said to him, “Rabbi” (which is translated Teacher),93 “where are you staying?” 1:39 Jesus94 answered,95 “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.96

Andrew’s Declaration

1:40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said97 and followed Jesus.98 1:41 He first99 found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!”100 (which is translated Christ).101 1:42 Andrew brought Simon102 to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John.103 You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).104