John 1:19-28 ▼

19 This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and descendants of Levi to him from Jerusalem to ask him, |Who are you?|

20 He spoke openly and, remaining true to himself, admitted, |I am not the Messiah.|

21 So they asked him, |Well then, are you Elijah?| John said, |I am not.| |Are you the Prophet?| He answered, |No.|

22 |Who are you?| they asked him. |We must give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?|

23 He replied, |I am '...a voice crying out in the wilderness, |Prepare the Lord's highway,|' as the prophet Isaiah said.|

24 Now those men had been sent from the Pharisees.

25 They asked him, |Why, then, are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?|

26 John answered them, |I am baptizing with water, but among you stands a man whom you do not know,

27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to untie.|

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