John 1:23-31

23He said, “I am 1a 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 2Christ, nor Elijah, nor 3the Prophet?” 26John answered them saying, “4I baptize 5in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27It is 6He who comes after me, the 7thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany 8beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, 9the Lamb of God who 10takes away the sin of the world! 30This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘11After me comes a Man who 12has a higher rank than I, 13for He existed before me.’ 31I did not recognize 14Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing 15in water.”