They began to argue among themselves:“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来’，他必说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来的’，他会说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来的’，他会说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’

他们彼此议论说：“如果我们说‘是从天上来的’，祂一定会问，‘那你们为什么不信他？’

他们就彼此议论：“如果我们说‘是从天上来的’，他就会说‘那你们为什么不信他呢？’

他们就彼此讨论，说：“如果我们说‘是来自天上’，他就会问‘那么你们为什么不相信他呢？’

他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來』，他必說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來的』，他會說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

他們彼此商議說：「我們若說『從天上來的』，他會說：『這樣，你們為甚麼不信他呢？』

他們彼此議論說：「如果我們說『是從天上來的』，祂一定會問，『那你們為什麼不信他？』

他們就彼此議論：“如果我們說‘是從天上來的’，他就會說‘那你們為甚麼不信他呢？’

他們彼此議論說：『我們若說由於天，他就會說，那你們為甚麼不信他？

他們就彼此討論，說：「如果我們說『是來自天上』，他就會問『那麼你們為什麼不相信他呢？』

其人竊議曰、若云自天、彼必曰、曷不信之、

其人竊議曰、若云由天、彼必曰、曷不信之、

其人竊議曰、若云自天、彼必云、何不信之、

若輩竊議曰：『如云自天、必曰何不信之。

They discussed it among themselves and said,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will ask,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

They talked to each other about it. They said,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will ask,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

And they discussed it with one another, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

They talked it over among themselves.“ If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John.

They discussed it among themselves:“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’

And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say,‘ Then why did you not believe him?’

And they reasoned among themselves, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

They discussed with one another, saying,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ he will say,‘ Then why did you not believe him?’

They reasoned with themselves, saying,“ If we should say,‘ From heaven;’ he will say,‘ Why then did you not believe him?’

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,“ Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

( John testified concerning Him and exclaimed,“ This was the One of whom I said,‘ The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’”)

When he saw Jesus passing by, he said,“ Look! The Lamb of God!”

He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.He must increase, but I must decrease.”The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all.He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true.For God sent Him, and He speaks God’s words, since He gives the Spirit without measure.The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands.The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:“ What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings’ palaces.But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.This is the one it is written about: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; he will prepare Your way before You.“ I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John;if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.

Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?” They began to argue among themselves,“ If we say,‘ From heaven,’ He will say to us,‘ Then why didn’t you believe him?’But if we say,‘ From men,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought John was a prophet.”So they answered Jesus,“ We don’t know.” And He said to them,“ Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

“ Which of the two did his father’s will?”“ The first,” they said. Jesus said to them,“ I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!”