John 1:19-28 ▼

19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, |Who are you?|

20 He confessed--he did not deny but confessed--|I am not the Christ!|

21 So they asked him, |Then who are you? Are you Elijah?| He said, |I am not!| |Are you the Prophet?| He answered, |No!|

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

23 John said, |I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said.|

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)

25 So they asked John, |Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?|

26 John answered them, |I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize,

27 who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!|

28 These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing.