John 1:24-34

24 The messengers, who had been sent by the Pharisees,

25 then ^[a] asked John, "If you are not the Messiah nor Elijah nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?"

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

27 He is coming after me, but I am not good enough even to untie his sandals."

28 All this happened in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

30 This is the one I was talking about when I said, "A man is coming after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.'

31 I did not know who he would be, but I came baptizing with water in order to make him known to the people of Israel."

32 And John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and stay on him.

33 I still did not know that he was the one, but God, who sent me to baptize with water, had said to me, "You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man; he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

34 I have seen it," said John, "and I tell you that he is the Son of God."