Study Desk

Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.

Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.

He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ. "

He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Messiah."

They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."

They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."

Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.'"

Now some Pharisees who had been sent

Now the Pharisees who had been sent

questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.

"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.

He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.