23. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah.
24. And they who were sent were of the Pharisees.
25. And they asked him, and said to him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou art not that Christ, nor Elijah, neither that prophet?
26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27. He it is, who coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoes' latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming to him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.
30. This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man who is preferred before me; for he was before me.
31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.