This is the One I was talking about. I said, ‘A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he was living before me—\{he has always lived\}.’
“I baptize {\cf2\super [41]} you with water to show that you changed your hearts and lives. But there is a person coming later that is greater than I am. I am not good enough to take off his shoes for him. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [42]} and with fire.
John answered everyone, “I baptize {\cf2\super [54]} you in water, but there is a person coming later who can do more than I can. I am not good enough to untie his shoes for him. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [55]} and with fire.
John told people about him. John said, “This is the One I was talking about. I said, ‘The One who comes after me is more important than I am. He was living before me.’”
Even I did not know who he was. But I came baptizing {\cf2\super [22]} people with water so that Israel (the Jews) could know that Jesus is \{the Christ\} {\cf2\super [23]} .”