⁹ What then did you go out to see? ^(A)A prophet?^[a] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

⁵ And though he wanted to put him to death, ^(A)he feared the people, because they held him to be ^(B)a prophet.

¹⁵ for he will be ^(A)great before the Lord. And ^(B)he must not drink wine or strong ^(C)drink, and ^(D)he will be ^(E)filled with the Holy Spirit, ^(F)even from his mother's womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷ and ^(G)he will go before him ^(H)in the spirit and power of Elijah, ^(I)to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and ^(J)the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, ^(K)to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say ^(A)that first Elijah must come?” ¹² And he said to them, “Elijah does come first ^(B)to restore all things. And ^(C)how is it written of the Son of Man that he should ^(D)suffer many things and ^(E)be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I tell you that Elijah has come, and ^(F)they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

²⁴ Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, ^(A)from where did it come? ^(B)From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ^(C)‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘From man,’ ^(D)we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was ^(E)a prophet.”

¹² But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but ^(A)did to him whatever they pleased. ^(B)So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” ^13 (C)Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

^13 (A)For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is ^(B)Elijah who is to come.