19. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him, so that they might ask him, "Who are you?"
20. And he confessed it and did not deny it; and what he confessed was: "I am not the Christ."
21. And they questioned him: "Then what are you? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."
22. Therefore, they said to him: "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"
23. He said, "I am a voice crying out in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' just as the prophet Isaiah said."
24. And some of those who had been sent were from among the Pharisees.
25. And they questioned him and said to him, "Then why do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet?"
26. John answered them by saying: "I baptize with water. But in your midst stands one, whom you do not know.
27. The same is he who is to come after me, who has been placed ahead of me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen."
28. These things happened in Bethania, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29. On the next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and so he said: "Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold, he who takes away the sin of the world.