^{19 Ref} And this is the witness of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him with the question, Who are you?

^{20 Ref} He said quite openly and straightforwardly, I am not the Christ.

^{21 Ref} And they said to him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And his answer was, I am not.

^{22 Ref} So they said to him, Who are you then? We have to give some answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?

^{23 Ref} He said, I am the voice of one crying in the waste land, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.

^{24 Ref} Those who had been sent came from the Pharisees.

^{25 Ref} And they put this question to him, saying, Why then are you giving baptism if you are not the Christ, or Elijah, or the prophet?

^{26 Ref} John's answer was: I give baptism with water; but there is one among you of whom you have no knowledge;

^{27 Ref} It is he who is coming after me; I am not good enough to undo his shoes.

^{28 Ref} These things took place at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was giving baptism.