John Testifies to the Authorities

19

This is Yochanan’s testimony, when the Judeans sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20

He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Messiah.”

21

They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

22

They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23

He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24

The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

25

They asked him, “Why then do you immerse, if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

26

Yochanan answered them, “I immerse in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.

27

He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”

28

These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Yochanan was immersing.