John 1:19-34

19This is the testimony of John [the Baptist] when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20And he confessed [truthfully] and did not deny [that he was only a man], but acknowledged, “I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)!”

21They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the [promised] Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

22Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23He said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.

25They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26John answered them, “I baptize [only] in water, but among you there stands One whom you do not recognize and of whom you know nothing.

27It is He [the preeminent One] who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie [even as His slave].”

28These things occurred in Bethany across the Jordan [at the Jordan River crossing], where John was baptizing.

29The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

30This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’

31I did not recognize Him [as the Messiah]; but I came baptizing in water so that He would be [publicly] revealed to Israel.”

32John gave [further] evidence [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

33I did not recognize Him [as the Messiah], but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this One is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

34I myself have [actually] seen [that happen], and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!”