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John Tells People About Jesus

19 The Jews in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John.[a] The Jews sent them to ask, “Who are you?”

20 John spoke freely and did not refuse to answer. He said clearly, “I am not the Christ.”

21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”[b]

He answered, “No, I am not Elijah.”

Then they asked, “Are you the Prophet?”[c]

He answered, “No, I am not the Prophet.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1:19 John John the Baptist, who preached to people about Christ’s coming (Matthew 3; Luke 3).
  2. 1:21 Elijah A man who spoke for God. He lived hundreds of years before Christ.
  3. 1:21 Prophet They probably meant the prophet that God told Moses he would send (Deuteronomy 18:15–19).

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’s(A) testimony when the Jewish leaders[a](B) in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”(C)

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”(D)

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”(E)

He answered, “No.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:19 The Greek term traditionally translated the Jews (hoi Ioudaioi) refers here and elsewhere in John’s Gospel to those Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus; also in 5:10, 15, 16; 7:1, 11, 13; 9:22; 18:14, 28, 36; 19:7, 12, 31, 38; 20:19.