⁸ John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

²⁰ He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

²⁸ You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’