⁷ As John’s^(A) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness^(B) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?^(C) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,^[b] and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.^{(F) 14} And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.^{(G) 15} Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(H)

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man^(A) must suffer much^(B) and be rejected?^{(C) 13} But I tell you, Elijah has come,^(D) and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.^{(A) 12} But I tell you, Elijah has already come,^(B) and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished.^(C) In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer^(D) at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.^(E)