The Testimony of John the Baptist (JHN 1:19-28)

[1:19] And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

[1:20] He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

[1:21] And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

[1:22] So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

[1:23] He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

[1:24] (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)

[1:25] They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

[1:26] John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,

[1:27] even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

[1:28] These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.