King James Bible
"And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?"
The questioners are priests and Levites sent from Jerusalem (v. 19), representing religious authorities investigating John the Baptist's ministry. Their formal approach reflects official concern about unauthorized religious activities outside the temple system. Baptism for repentance was typically associated with Gentile conversion to Judaism, making John's baptism of Jews revolutionary. The authorities challenge his authority to institute this practice without recognized messianic credentials. The three figures represent Jewish messianic expectations: the Christ (Messiah), Elijah who would return before the Messiah (Malachi 4:5), and 'that prophet' promised by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). John's denial of all three identities creates a theological puzzle about his baptizing authority.