NARRATOR 1: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
NARRATOR 2: This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him:
PRIESTS, LEVITES: Who are you?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: I am not the Messiah.
PRIESTS, LEVITES: What then? Are you Elijah?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: I am not.
PRIESTS, LEVITES: Are you the prophet?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: No.
PRIESTS, LEVITES: Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?
NARRATOR: John answered by quoting the prophet Isaiah.
JOHN THE BAPTIST: I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Holy One.”
NARRATOR: Now the questioners had been sent from the Pharisees.
PRIESTS, LEVITES: Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.
NARRATOR: This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1.6-8, 19-28