²⁶ So they came to John and said, “Teacher [^LRabbi], remember the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, the one ·you spoke about so much [^Labout whom you have testified/witnessed]? He is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

²⁷ John answered, “A ·man [person] can get only what ·God gives him [^Lis given to him from heaven]. ²⁸ You yourselves heard me ·say [testify], ‘I am not the ·Christ [Messiah], but I am the one sent ·to prepare the way for him [^Lbefore him; 1:20–28; compare Is. 40:3].’