John 1:19-28

19This is 1the testimony of John, when 2the Jews sent to him priests and Levites 3from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “4I am not 5the Christ.” 21They asked him, “What then? Are you 6Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you 7the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I am 8a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the 9Christ, nor Elijah, nor 10the Prophet?” 26John answered them saying, “11I baptize 12in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27It is 13He who comes after me, the 14thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany 15beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.