24. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
25. They asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
26. John answered them saying, "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.
27. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."
28. These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30. This is He on behalf of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'
31. I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water."
32. John testified saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.
33. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'