19. This is John’s testimony, when the Judean leaders sent kohanim and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20. He openly admitted and did not deny; he admitted, “I am not the Messiah.”
21. “What then? Are you Elijah?” they asked him. “I am not,” said John. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he answered.
22. So they said to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23. He said, “I am ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of Adonai,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24. Now those sent were from the Pharisees.
25. They asked him, “If you’re not the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet, why then are you immersing?”
26. “I immerse in water,” John answered. “Among you stands One you do not know,
27. coming after me, whose sandals I’m not worthy to untie.”