19 ^kAnd this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ^l“I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? ^mAre you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you ⁿthe Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am ^othe voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight¹ the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 ^pThe next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, ^qthe Lamb of God, who ^rtakes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ^sbefore me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John ^tbore witness: ^u“I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize ^vwith water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes ^wwith the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the ^xSon² of God.”