²⁵ As John was completing his work,^(A) he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for.^(B) But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’^(C)

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance.^(A) But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit^(B) and fire.^(C)

²⁶ “I baptize with^[a] water,”^(A) John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me,^(B) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”^(C)

⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.^(A)

²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(A) my only aim is to finish the race^(B) and complete the task^(C) the Lord Jesus has given me^(D)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(E)

²⁰ He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”^(A)

²¹ They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”^(B)

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”^(C)

He answered, “No.”

²² Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

²³ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness,^(D) ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”^[a](E)

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John^(A) might possibly be the Messiah.^{(B) 16} John answered them all, “I baptize you with^[a] water.^(C) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.^(D)

⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast^(A) that comes up from the Abyss^(B) will attack them,^(C) and overpower and kill them.

⁷ I have fought the good fight,^(A) I have finished the race,^(B) I have kept the faith.