19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites 

to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the 

Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you 

the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take 

back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of 

Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for 

the Lord.’” 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you 

baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John 

replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the 

straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”