But if we say, ‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.”

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

But if we say, ‘From people – ’” (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet).

If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, ¹  we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume ¹  them?” ² 

So ¹  they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’

But if we say, ‘From people,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking ¹  in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing ²  the truth.

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” ¹  They discussed this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’