SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:15
¶ Y estando el pueblo esperando, y pensando todos de Juan en sus corazones, si l fuese el Cristo,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 3:15
Verse 15. Whether he were the Christ] So general was the reformation which was produced by the Baptist's preaching that the people were ready to consider him as the promised Messiah. Thus John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, and reformed all things; showed the people, the tax- gatherers, and the soldiers, their respective duties, and persuaded them to put away the evil of their doings. See the note on Matt. xvii. 11.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. And as the people were in expectation, of the coming of the Messiah ; Daniel's seventy weeks being now accomplished, the sceptre being departed from Judah, and the Romans having the government in their hands, from whom they hoped for a deliverance by Christ; and all men mused in their hearts of John; whether he were the Christ, or no ; about which they had many reasonings and debates: some doubting of it, others ready to believe it, from his extraordinary birth, the singular holiness of his life, the power and efficacy of his doctrine, the new ordinance he administered, the restoration of religion by him, the freedom he took in reproving the vices of men, and the apt answers he gave to the questions now put to him. And that the Messiah was born, though he was not, as yet, made manifest, they might conclude, not only from the fulfilment of several prophecies, but from the song of Zacharias, the declaration of Simeon and Anna in the temple, and of the wise men that came from the east; and John appearing in such an unusual manner, they were ready to hope that he was the person; though they did not consider that he was of the tribe of Levi, and not of Judah; from which latter the Messiah was to spring; but this might be unattended to by them, and Satan might have an hand in it to hide the true Messiah from them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-20 - John the Baptist disowned being himself the Christ, but confirmed the people in their expectations of the long-promised Messiah. He coul only exhort them to repent, and assure them of forgiveness upo repentance; but he could not work repentance in them, nor confe remission on them. Thus highly does it become us to speak of Christ and thus humbly of ourselves. John can do no more than baptize with water, in token that they ought to purify and cleanse themselves; but Christ can, and will baptize with the Holy Ghost; he can give the Spirit, to cleanse and purify the heart, not only as water washes of the dirt on the outside, but as fire clears out the dross that is within, and melts down the metal, that it may be cast into a new mould John was an affectionate preacher; he was beseeching; he pressed thing home upon his hearers. He was a practical preacher; quickening them to their duty, and directing them in it. He was a popular preacher; he addressed the people, according to their capacity. He was a evangelical preacher. In all his exhortations, he directed people to Christ. When we press duty upon people, we must direct them to Christ both for righteousness and strength. He was a copious preacher; he shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. But a full stop wa put to John's preaching when he was in the midst of his usefulness Herod being reproved by him for many evils, shut up John in prison Those who injure the faithful servants of God, add still greater guil to their other sins.
Greek Textus Receptus
προσδοκωντος 4328 5723 V-PAP-GSM δε 1161 CONJ του 3588 T-GSM λαου 2992 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ διαλογιζομενων 1260 5740 V-PNP-GPM παντων 3956 A-GPM εν 1722 PREP ταις 3588 T-DPF καρδιαις 2588 N-DPF αυτων 846 P-GPM περι 4012 PREP του 3588 T-GSM ιωαννου 2491 N-GSM μηποτε 3379 ADV αυτος 846 P-NSM ειη 1498 5751 V-PXO-3S ο 3588 T-NSM χριστος 5547 N-NSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
15. Mused (dialogizomenwn). Better as Rev., reasoned. Compare chapter i. 29; and see on Jas. ii. 4.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:15 {Were in expectation} (prosdokwntos). Genitive absolute of this striking verb already seen in #1:21. {Reasoned} (dialogizomenwn). Genitive absolute again. John's preaching about the Messiah and the kingdom of God stirred the people deeply and set them to wondering. {Whether haply he were the Christ} (mepote autos eie ho cristos). Optative eie in indirect question changed from the indicative in the direct (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1031). John wrought no miracles and was not in David's line and yet he moved people so mightily that they began to suspect that he himself (autos) was the Messiah. The Sanhedrin will one day send a formal committee to ask him this direct question (#Joh 1:19).
