¹⁵ (John testified^(A) concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)^(B)

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

¹⁹ Now this was John’s^(A) testimony when the Jewish leaders^[a](B) in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.

²⁷ He is the one who comes after me,^(A) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”^(B)

³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.^(A)