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

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

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

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

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

24: And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

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

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

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

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