1 ¹⁹ THIS IS THE TESTIMONY which John gave when the Jews of Jerusalem sent a deputation of priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 1 ²⁰ He confessed without reserve and avowed, 'I am not the Messiah.' 1 ²¹ 'What then? Are you Elijah?' 'No', he replied. 'Are you the prophet we await?' He answered 'No.' 1 ²² 'Then who are you?' they asked. 'We must give an answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?' 1 ^{23 [ Is.40.3. ]} He answered in the words of the prophet Isaiah: 'I am a voice crying aloud in the wilderness, "Make the Lord's highway straight." '

1 ²⁴ Some Pharisees who were in the deputation 1 ²⁵ asked him, 'If you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet, why then are you baptizing?' 1 ²⁶ 'I baptize in water,' John replied, 'but among you, though you do not know him, stands the one 1 ²⁷ who is to come after me. I am not good enough to unfasten his shoes.' 1 ²⁸ This took place at Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.