“Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet.”
Others, however, said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
“He is really John the Baptist, who has come back to life,” he told his officials. “That is why he has this power to perform miracles.”
“But before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, I will send you the prophet Elijah.
So the Pharisees asked the man once more, “You say he cured you of your blindness—well, what do you say about him?” “He is a prophet,” the man answered.
There was much whispering about him in the crowd. “He is a good man,” some people said. “No,” others said, “he fools the people.”
Others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.
“Some say that you are John the Baptist,” they answered; “others say that you are Elijah, while others say that you are one of the prophets.”
Then the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?”
“Who are you, then?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No, I am not,” John answered. “Are you the Prophet?” they asked. “No,” he replied.
This book is the account of what was said by Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests of the town of Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
At that time John the Baptist came to the desert of Judea and started preaching.
“What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”