John 1:15-36 it was of him that John bare witness, when he made this declaration, "this was he of whom I said, he that cometh after me, was before me; for he did indeed exist before me."

Mace⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁵ it was of him that John bare witness, when he made this declaration, "this was he of whom I said, he that cometh after me, was before me; for he did indeed exist before me." ¹⁶ and of his Plenitude have we all received, even abundant grace. ¹⁷ the law indeed was delivered by Moses, but grace and truth was the dispensation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ no man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten son, who is intimate with the father, hath made him known. ¹⁹ This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, who he was. ²⁰ he own'd it, and did not deny it; but made this protestation, I am not the Christ. ²¹ art thou then Elias? said they; and he answer'd, I am not. art thou a prophet? and he answer'd, no. ²² said they to him, who then art thou? that we may give an answer to those that sent us: what sayst thou of thy self? ²³ "I am, said he, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, clear the way of the Lord," as said the prophet Esaias. ²⁴ Now the messengers were of the sect of the Pharisees, and they asked him, ²⁵ "why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elias, nor any other prophet?" ²⁶ John answered them, I baptize with water: but there is one among you, whom ye know not; he it is who coming after me, ²⁷ is preferred before me, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to unloose. ²⁸ these things were transacted at Bethabara, near Jordan, where John used to baptize. ²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "behold the lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world." ³⁰ this is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man, who was before me: for he did indeed exist before me. ³¹ I knew him not: but therefore am I come baptizing with water, that he might be manifest to Israel. ³² and John testified, saying, I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. ³³ I had not known him: but he that sent me to baptize with water, had told me, "upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with the holy spirit." ³⁴ this I saw, and testify'd, that he is the son of God. ³⁵ The next day after, John was again there with two of his disciples: ³⁶ and seeing Jesus as he walked, he said, "behold the lamb of God."