before me; for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, _but_ grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared _him_. § 18. Testimony of John the Baptist to Jesus. _Bethany beyond Jordan_. John. CH. I. 19-34. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.(110) 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,(111) 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,