New International Reader's Version NIRV
New International Version NIV
19 The Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. John gave witness to them.
19
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
20 He did not try to hide the truth. He spoke to them openly. He said, "I am not the Christ."
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He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet we've been expecting?" they asked. "No," he answered.
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They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22 They asked one last time, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
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Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied, using the words of Isaiah the prophet. John said, "I'm the messenger who is calling out in the desert, 'Make the way for the Lord straight.' "(Isaiah 40:3)
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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.’ ”
24 Some Pharisees who had been sent
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Now the Pharisees who had been sent
25 asked him, "If you are not the Christ, why are you baptizing people? Why are you doing that if you aren't Elijah or the Prophet we've been expecting?"
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questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 "I baptize people with water," John replied. "But One is standing among you whom you do not know.
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“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.
27 He is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals."
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He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. That was where John was baptizing.
28
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.