^{18 Ref} The disciples of John told him about all these things.

^{19 Ref} John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?"

^{20 Ref} When the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?'"

^{21 Ref} In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.

^{22 Ref} Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

^{23 Ref} Blessed is he who is not offended by me."

^{24 Ref} When John's messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

^{25 Ref} But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

^{26 Ref} But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.

^{27 Ref} This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, Who will prepare your way before you.'

^{28 Ref} "For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he."

^{29 Ref} When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John's baptism.

^{30 Ref} But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.

^{31 Ref} But the Lord said,{So reads TR. MT omits "But the Lord said,"} "To what then will I liken the people of this generation? What are they like?

^{32 Ref} They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call one to another, saying, 'We piped to you, and you didn't dance. We mourned, and you didn't weep.'

^{33 Ref} For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'

^{34 Ref} The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'

^{35 Ref} Wisdom is justified by all her children."