SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:19
¶ Y ste es el testimonio de Juan, cuando los judíos enviaron de Jerusaln sacerdotes y levitas, que le preguntasen: ¿T, quin eres?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 1:19
Verse 19. And this is the record of John] He persisted in this assertion, testifying to the Jews that this Jesus was THE CHRIST.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. And this is the record of John , etc.] The evangelist proceeds to give a large, and full account of the testimony John the Baptist bore to Christ, which he had hinted at before, and had signified was his work, and office, and the end of his being sent. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, who art thou ? The Jews that sent were the great sanhedrim that sat at Jerusalem, whose business it was to inquire into, examine, and try prophets, whether true or false f38 ; and John appearing as a prophet, and being so esteemed by the people, they deputed messengers to him to interrogate him, and know who he was. The persons sent were very likely of their own body, since priests and Levites were in that council. For it is said f39 , they do not constitute, or appoint in the sanhedrim but priests, Levites, and Israelites, who have their genealogies -and it is commanded, that there should be in the great sanhedrim priests and Levites, as it is said, ( Deuteronomy 17:9) and thou shalt come unto the priests, the Levites, etc. and if they are not to be found, though they are all Israelites, (not of the tribe of Levi,) it is right. Such a sanhedrim is a lawful one; but priests and Levites, if such could be found, that had proper qualifications, were to be admitted in the first place.
A message from so august an assembly, at so great a distance, (for Jordan was a days journey distant from Jerusalem f40 ; according to Josephus f41 , it was 210 furlongs, or 26 miles and a quarter,) and by the hands of persons of such character and figure, was doing John a great deal of honour, and serves to make his testimony of Christ the more public and remarkable; and it also shows what a noise Johns ministry and baptism made among the Jews, that it even reached Jerusalem, and the great council of the nation; and likewise the question put to him, which by Johns answer seems to intimate as if it was thought he was the Messiah, shows the opinion that was entertained of him, and even the sanhedrim might not be without thoughts this way: and the question they put by their messengers might not be, as some have thought, to ensnare John, nor out of disrespect to Jesus, who, as yet, was not made manifest; but might be in good earnest, having, from many circumstances, reason to think there might be something in the peoples opinion of him; since, though the government was not wholly departed from Judah, yet they could not but observe it was going away apace, an Idumean having been upon the throne for some years, placed there by the Roman senate; and now the government was divided among his sons by the same order; Daniels weeks they could not but see were just accomplishing; and besides, from the uncommon appearance John made, the austerity of his life; the doctrine of remission of sins he preached, and the new ordinance of baptism he administered, they might be ready to conclude he was the person.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-28 - John disowns himself to be the Christ, who was now expected and waite for. He came in the spirit and power of Elias, but he was not the person of Elias. John was not that Prophet whom Moses said the Lor would raise up to them of their brethren, like unto him. He was no such a prophet as they expected, who would rescue them from the Romans He gave such an account of himself, as might excite and awaken them to hearken to him. He baptized the people with water as a profession of repentance, and as an outward sign of the spiritual blessings to be conferred on them by the Messiah, who was in the midst of them, thoug they knew him not, and to whom he was unworthy to render the meanes service.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ αυτη 3778 D-NSF εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S η 3588 T-NSF μαρτυρια 3141 N-NSF του 3588 T-GSM ιωαννου 2491 N-GSM οτε 3753 ADV απεστειλαν 649 5656 V-AAI-3P οι 3588 T-NPM ιουδαιοι 2453 A-NPM εξ 1537 PREP ιεροσολυμων 2414 N-GPN ιερεις 2409 N-APM και 2532 CONJ λευιτας 3019 N-APM ινα 2443 CONJ ερωτησωσιν 2065 5661 V-AAS-3P αυτον 846 P-ASM συ 4771 P-2NS τις 5101 I-NSM ει 1488 5748 V-PXI-2S
