I tell you the truth: John the Baptizer is greater than any man that has ever lived. But even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.
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.
(When the people heard this, they all agreed that God’s teaching was good. Even the tax collectors {\cf2\super [135]} agreed. These were the people that were baptized {\cf2\super [136]} by John.
Then Jesus said to the followers, “If a person accepts a little child like this in my name, then that person accepts me. And when a person accepts me, that person accepts the One (God) that sent me. The person among you that is the most humble—that person is a great (important) person.”