^{19 Ref} And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent out of Jerusalem priests and Levites, that they might question him, `Who art thou?'

^{20 Ref} and he confessed and did not deny, and confessed -- `I am not the Christ.'

^{21 Ref} And they questioned him, `What then? Elijah art thou?' and he saith, `I am not.' -- `The prophet art thou?' and he answered, `No.'

^{22 Ref} They said then to him, `Who art thou, that we may give an answer to those sending us? what dost thou say concerning thyself?'

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

^{24 Ref} And those sent were of the Pharisees,

^{25 Ref} and they questioned him and said to him, `Why, then, dost thou baptize, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?'

^{26 Ref} John answered them, saying, `I baptize with water, but in midst of you he hath stood whom ye have not known, this one it is who is coming after me, who hath been before me,

^{27 Ref} of whom I am not worthy that I may loose the cord of his sandal.'

^{28 Ref} These things came to pass in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing,