John 1:19–28
19 This was John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusaleman sent priestsao and Levitesap to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He didn’t deny it but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”aq
21 “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?”ar
“I am not,” he said.
“Are you the Prophet?”as
“No,” he answered.
22 “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”
23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the LordL,at—just as Isaiahau the prophet said.”
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.av 25 So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with* water,”aw John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know him. 27 He is the one coming after me,N,ax whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.” 28 All this happened in BethanyO across the Jordan,ay where John was baptizing.