₆God sent his messenger, a man named John, ₇who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. ₈He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light.

₁₉The Jewish authorities in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John, to ask him, “Who are you?”

₂₀John did not refuse to answer, but spoke out openly and clearly, saying: “I am not the Messiah.”

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

“No, I am not,” John answered.

“Are you the Prophet?” they asked.

“No,” he replied.

₂₂“Then tell us who you are,” they said. “We have to take an answer back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

₂₃John answered by quoting the prophet Isaiah:

₂₄The messengers, who had been sent by the Pharisees, ₂₅then asked John, “If you are not the Messiah nor Elijah nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?”

₂₆John answered, “I baptize with water, but among you stands the one you do not know. ₂₇He is coming after me, but I am not good enough even to untie his sandals.”

₂₈All this happened in Bethany on the east side of the River Jordan, where John was baptizing.