John 3:24-28

for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.”

John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’