¹⁵ Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

²⁴ Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in ^[a]doubt? If You are the Christ, 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)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.

A Voice in the Wilderness^(A)

¹⁹ Now this is ^(B)the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “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? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you ^(D)the Prophet?”

And he answered, “No.”

²² Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

²³ He said: ^(E)“I am

as the prophet Isaiah said.”

²⁴ Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. ²⁵ And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

²⁶ John answered them, saying, ^(G)“I baptize with water, ^(H)but there stands One among you whom you do not know. ^27 (I)It is He who, coming after me, ^[a]is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

²⁸ These things were done ^(J)in ^[b]Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.