^20 (A)He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

⁷ And he preached, saying, ^(A)“There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. ^8 (B)I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you ^(C)with the Holy Spirit.”

²⁸ You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ^(A)‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ^(B)‘I have been sent before Him.’ ^29 (C)He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but ^(D)the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. ^30 (E)He must increase, but I must decrease. ^31 (F)He who comes from above ^(G)is above all; ^(H)he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. ^(I)He who comes from heaven is above all. ³² And ^(J)what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. ³³ He who has received His testimony ^(K)has certified that God is true. ^34 (L)For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit ^(M)by measure. ^35 (N)The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. ^36 (O)He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the ^(P)wrath of God abides on him.”

¹⁵ Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, ¹⁶ John answered, saying to all, ^(A)“I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will ^(B)baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and ^(C)gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

^11 (A)I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. ^(B)He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit ^[a]and fire. ^12 (C)His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will ^(D)burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”