¹⁹ And this is the record of John: When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, "What art thou?"

²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not, and said plainly, "I am not Christ."

²¹ And they asked him, "What then? Art thou Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." Art thou that prophet? And he answered, "No."

²² Then said they unto him, "What art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thy self?"

²³ He said, "I am the voice of a crier in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah."

²⁴ And they which were sent, were of the Pharisees. ²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, "Why baptisest thou then, if thou be not Christ, nor Elijah, neither a prophet?"

²⁶ John answered them, saying, "I baptise with water: but one is come among you, whom ye know not. ²⁷ He it is that cometh after me, which was before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to unloose."

²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John did baptise.

²⁹ The next day, John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, "Behold, the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, 'After me cometh a man, which went before me. For he was before me, ³¹ and I knew him not: but that he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptising with water.'"

³² And John bare record, saying, "I saw the spirit descend from heaven, like unto a dove, and abide upon him, and I knew him not: ³³ But he that sent me to baptise in water, the same said unto me, 'Upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descend, and tarry still on him, the same is he which baptiseth with the holy ghost.' ³⁴ And I saw it, and bare record, that this is the son of God."