¹⁵ And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;

¹⁹ And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou?

²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ.

²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.

²² They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

²³ He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.

²⁴ And they had been sent from the Pharisees.

²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet?

²⁶ John answered them, saying, I baptize in water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not,

²⁷ `even' he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose.

²⁸ These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

²⁸ Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him.

²⁹ He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is made full.

²⁴ The Jews therefore came round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly.