^{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.