^{19 Ref} This is John's testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

^{20 Ref} He confessed, and didn't deny, but he confessed, "I am not the Christ."

^{21 Ref} They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."

^{22 Ref} They said therefore to him, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

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

^{24 Ref} The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

^{25 Ref} They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

^{26 Ref} John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know.

^{27 Ref} He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen."

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