The Skeptics Annotated Bible (839 page)

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28
These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

(1.28) “These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.” But no such site is known in history. Some translations ASV, NAB, NIV, RSV, NRSV) rename Bethabara as Bethany, but Bethany is a suburb of Jerusalem and, therefore, not “beyond the Jordan.”
333 Where did John baptize?

(1.29-34) John baptizes Jesus and declares him to be “the Son of God.” But later, as he is about to be beheaded, he is no longer sure what to think about Jesus. So he sends his own disciples to ask, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” (Mt 11.3) Well, if he isn’t sure after seeing and hearing the events at Jesus’ baptism, then how can anyone else be?

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

(1.29)
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And
John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

(1.32)
“John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.”

33 And I knew him not: but
he that sent me to baptize with water
, the same
said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending
, and remaining on him, the same
is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

(1.33)
“He that sent me to baptize with water … said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending … is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”

34 And
I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

(1.34)
“I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

35
Again the next day after
John stood, and two of his disciples;

(1.35)
“Again the next day after….”
415 What did Jesus do after his baptism?

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

40
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

(1.40) “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”
337 Which came first: the calling of Peter and Andrew or the imprisonment of John the Baptist?

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him
, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

(1.41)
“We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
363 How did Peter find out that Jesus was the Messiah?

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

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

(1.44) “Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.”
416 Where was the home of Peter and Andrew?

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

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

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

(1.48-50) Jesus had remote viewing skills.

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

(1.48)
“Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”

49
Nathanael
answered and
saith
unto him,
Rabbi, thou art the Son of God
; thou art the King of Israel.