⁶ There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

¹⁹ This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰ He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”

²¹ They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

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

²³ He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’Isaiah 40:3 as Isaiah the prophet said.”

²⁴ The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. ²⁵ They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” ²⁸ These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.