But John said to everyone, “I’m baptizing you with water, but someone is coming who’s more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
“I’m baptizing you with water so you can show that you’ve turned away from your sins. But someone is coming after me who’s more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
John was a witness for him. He cried out and said, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who came before me, because he was there before me.’ ”
Paul explained, “John baptized people, calling them to turn away from their sins. He told them to believe in the one who was coming after him, meaning Jesus.”
As John was finishing his work, he asked, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the one you’re looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I’m not worthy to untie his sandals.’