22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was ^hbaptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for ⁱJohn had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you ^jbore witness—look, he is baptizing, and ^kall are going to him.” 27 John answered, ^l“A person cannot receive even one thing ^munless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, ⁿthat I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been ^osent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the ^pbridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore ^qthis joy of mine is now complete. 30 ^rHe must increase, but I must decrease.”¹