John 1:19-28 ▼

19 This was John's answer when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, |Who are you?|

20 John didn't refuse to answer. He told them clearly, |I'm not the Messiah.|

21 They asked him, |Well, are you Elijah?| John answered, |No, I'm not.| Then they asked, |Are you the prophet?| John replied, |No.|

22 So they asked him, |Who are you? Tell us so that we can take an answer back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?|

23 John said, |I'm a voice crying out in the desert, 'Make the way for the Lord straight,' as the prophet Isaiah said.|

24 Some of those who had been sent were Pharisees.

25 They asked John, |Why do you baptize if you're not the Messiah or Elijah or the prophet?|

26 John answered them, |I baptize with water. Someone you don't know is standing among you.

27 He's the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to untie his sandal strap.|

28 This happened in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.