John 1:19
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
21 “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
- KJV
- And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
- WEB
- This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
- ASV
- And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou?
- DARBY
- And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites that they might ask him, Thou, who art thou?
- BLB
- And this is the testimony of John when the Jews of Jerusalem sent to him priests and Levites so that they might ask him, “Who are you?”
- ÅB
- Og dette er Johannes' vitnesbyrd, da jødene sendte prester og levitter fra Jerusalem for å spørre ham: Hvem er du?
- OTB
- Dette var Johannes’ vitnesbyrd da de jødiske lederne sendte prester og levitter fra Jerusalem for å spørre ham, “Hvem er du?”
- B1930
- Og dette er Johannes' vidnesbyrd, da jødene sendte prester og levitter fra Jerusalem for å spørre ham: Hvem er du?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
John 10:24
So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Read in contextLuke 3:15–18
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
Read in contextActs 19:4
Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
Read in contextActs 13:25
As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But He is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
Read in contextJohn 5:33–36
You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
Read in contextMatthew 21:23–32
When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
Read in contextJohn 2:18
On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”
Read in contextJohn 5:10
so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”
Read in context