Add parallel Print Page Options

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; L Jews; C John 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 [C the 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?” [C Elijah, 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?” [C the Prophet like Moses predicted in Deut. 18:15–19] they asked.

He answered, “No.”

22 Then they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to tell those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John told them in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“I am the voice of one
    calling out in the ·desert [wilderness]:
‘Make ·the road straight [a clear path] for the Lord [Is. 40:3].’”

24 Some Pharisees [C a religious party which strictly observed OT laws and later customs] who had been sent asked John: 25 “If you are not the ·Christ [Messiah] or Elijah or the Prophet [1:21], why do you baptize people?”

26 John answered, “I baptize with water, but there is one here with you that you don’t ·know about [recognize]. 27 He is the One who comes after me. I am not ·good enough [worthy; fit] to untie the ·strings [straps] of his sandals.” [C Removing sandals was the task of a slave.]

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River [C a site east of the Jordan River, not the Bethany near Jerusalem], where John was baptizing people.

Read full chapter

19 And kai this houtos is eimi the ho testimony martyria of ho John Iōannēs, when hote the ho Jews Ioudaios sent apostellō priests hiereus and kai Levites Leuitēs to pros him autos from ek Jerusalem Hierosolyma to hina ask erōtaō him autos, “ Who tis are eimi you sy?” 20 · kai He confessed homologeō and kai did not ou deny arneomai, but kai confessed homologeō, “ I egō am eimi not ou the ho Christ Christos.” 21 So kai they asked erōtaō him autos, “ Then oun who tis are you sy? Are you eimi Elijah ēlias?” And kai he said legō, “ I am eimi not ou.” “ Are eimi you sy the ho Prophet prophētēs?” And kai he replied apokrinomai, “ No ou.” 22 Then oun they said legō to him autos, “ Who tis are eimi you ? Tell us so hina we can give didōmi an answer apokrisis to those ho who sent pempō us hēmeis. What tis do you say legō about peri yourself seautou?” 23 He said phēmi, “ I egō am the voice phōnē of one crying boaō out in en the ho wilderness erēmos, ‘ Make straight euthunō the ho way hodos for the Lord kyrios,’ as kathōs Isaiah ēsaias the ho prophet prophētēs said legō.”

24 Now kai those who had been eimi sent apostellō out included some ek · ho Pharisees Pharisaios. 25 So kai they asked erōtaō him autos, · kai saying legō, “ Why tis then oun are you baptizing baptizō, if ei you sy are eimi not ou the ho Christ Christos, nor oude Elijah ēlias, nor oude the ho Prophet prophētēs?” 26 John Iōannēs answered apokrinomai them autos, · ho saying legō, “ I egō baptize baptizō with en water hydōr, but there stands stēkō among mesos you hymeis one whom hos you hymeis do not ou know oida, 27 the ho one coming erchomai after opisō me egō; I egō am eimi not ou worthy axios to hina untie lyō the ho thong himas of ho his autos sandals hypodēma.” 28 This houtos took place ginomai in en Bethany Bēthania on the far peran side of the ho Jordan Iordanēs where hopou John Iōannēs was eimi · ho baptizing baptizō.

Read full chapter