⁶ There was a man, sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as an eyewitness to testify about the light so that everyone would believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

¹⁹ This is the testimony John gave when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites^[a] to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰ He confessed and did not deny. He confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

²¹ And they asked him, “Who are you then? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

“No,” he answered.

²² Then they asked him, “Who are you? Tell us so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

²³ He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’^[b] just as Isaiah the prophet said.”

²⁴ They had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵ So they asked John, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

²⁶ “I baptize with water,” John answered. “Among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one coming after me,^[c] whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”

²⁸ These things happened in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

¹⁶ Rejoice always. ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸ In everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.