As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,

And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.