And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
Parallel translations
- WEB This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem 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?
- NKJV Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
- NASB This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
- NLT This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites to ask John the Baptist who he was. His official examination by Jerusalem's authorities begins here.
Overview
John's Gospel formally introduces the Baptist's 'testimony' as a delegation from the Jerusalem authorities investigates his identity and mission. Their question, 'Who are you?', frames the following verses, in which John repeatedly deflects honor away from himself toward Christ. The episode shows the religious establishment's scrutiny and John's faithful, self-effacing reply.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Luke 3:15–18The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
- John 10:24So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
- Acts 19:4Paul 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.”
- Acts 13:25As 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.’
- John 5:33–36You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
- Matt 21:23–32When 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?”
- John 2:18On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”
- John 5:10so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”
- Deut 17:9–11You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case.
- Deut 24:8In cases of infectious skin diseases, be careful to diligently follow everything the Levitical priests instruct you. Be careful to do as I have commanded them.
- John 6:41At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
- John 6:52At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Pastoral
Henry on the prologue — rich on the Word and the incarnation.
Seminary
- ★ Start hereCommentaryThe Gospel According to John (Pillar NT Commentary)D. A. Carson · ~720 pp · Paid · reformed
The go-to mid-level exegetical commentary on John — rigorous and readable.
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 1:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.