John the Baptist Tells People About Jesus^(A)

¹⁹ Here is the ·truth John told [testimony John gave; witness of John; 1:6] when the ·leaders [Jewish leadership; ^LJews; ^CJohn often uses the term “Jews” to refer to the religious leaders in opposition to Jesus, rather than to the Jewish people generally] in Jerusalem sent ·priests and Levites [^Cthe religious authorities; priests oversaw temple worship; Levites were members of the tribe of Levi who assisted them; 1 Chr. 23:24–32] to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰ John ·spoke freely [confessed] and did not ·refuse to answer [deny it]. He said, “I am not the ·Christ [Messiah].”

²¹ So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” [^CElijah, an OT prophet, was expected to come back before the Messiah; 1 Kin. 17—2 Kin. 2; Mal. 4:5–6.]

He answered, “No, I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?” [^Cthe Prophet like Moses predicted in Deut. 18:15–19] they asked.

He answered, “No.”