¹⁵ As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, ^(A)whether he might be ^(B)the Christ,

²⁴ So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are ^(A)the Christ, ^(B)tell us plainly.”

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)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. ^(D)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, ^(E)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

¹⁹ And this is the ^(A)testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ^(B)“Who are you?” ^20 (C)He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹ And they asked him, “What then? ^(D)Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you ^(E)the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²² So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³ He said, “I am ^(F)the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight^[a] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

²⁴ (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵ They asked him, ^(G)“Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them, ^(H)“I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even ^(I)he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.