John Testifies to the Authorities

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¶ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

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And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

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And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

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Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

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He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

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And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

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And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

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John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

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He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

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These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.