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Selected Verse: John 1:19 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 1:19 |
King James |
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
THE BAPTIST'S TESTIMONY TO CHRIST. (John 1:19-36)
record--testimony.
the Jews--that is, the heads of the nation, the members of the Sanhedrim. In this peculiar sense our Evangelist seems always to use the term. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
This is the record - The word "record" here means "testimony," in whatever way given. The word "record" now commonly refers to "written" evidence. This is not its meaning here. John's testimony was given without writing.
When the Jews sent - John's fame was great. See Mat 3:5. It spread from the region of Galilee to Jerusalem, and the nation seemed to suppose, from the character of his preaching, that he was the Messiah, Luk 3:15. The great council of the nation, or the Sanhedrin, had, among other things, the charge of religion. They felt it to be their duty, therefore, to inquire into the character and claims of John, and to learn whether he was the Messiah. It is not improbable that they wished that he might be the long-expected Christ, and were prepared to regard him as such.
When the Jews sent priests and Levites - See the notes at Luk 10:31-32. These were probably members of the Sanhedrin. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
This (αὕτη)
The following. This use of the pronoun, calling the reader's attention to what follows, and preparing him for it, is frequent in John. Sometimes the pronoun carries the sense of quality: of this character. See Joh 3:19; Joh 15:12; Jo1 5:4, Jo1 5:9, Jo1 5:11, Jo1 5:14.
Witness (μαρτυρία)
Testimony. See on Joh 1:7, and Pe1 5:1.
John
See on Joh 1:6. Note the article: the John previously mentioned.
The Jews (οἱ Ἱοὐδαῖοι)
This is a characteristic word in John. It occurs more than fifty times in his Gospel as his own expression, while there are six instances of the formula King of the Jews used by Gentiles. In the Synoptic Gospels, on the other hand, to twelve instances of King of the Jews, there are but four passages in which the word Jews occurs. In Paul's writings it is comparatively rare, mostly in contrast with Greek, and both in contrast with Christianity. In Revelation it is found twice (Rev 2:9; Rev 3:9), of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are "of the synagogue of Satan" and "do lie."
John, in the Gospel, distinguishes between the multitude (ὁ ὄχλος) and the Jews (Ἱουδαῖοι). By the former he means the aggregate of the Jewish inhabitants of Palestine, the mass of the people, chiefly Galilaeans; by the latter, more particularly Judaeans, the leaders of Judaism in opposition to Jesus. The multitude are unsettled in conviction, inquisitive, despised by the Pharisees, inclined to listen to Jesus and to believe; moved by an impulse to make Him a king, escorting Him triumphantly into Jerusalem, and not appearing in the narrative of the trial and crucifixion. The Jews are tenacious of the expectation of a national Messiah. They represent the narrow, sectarian aspect of Judaism; they are the instigators and leaders of the opposition to Jesus, and to them His crucifixion is attributed. John uses the word where the other Evangelists speak of the opposers of Christ as Pharisees, Sadducees, elders, chief-priests, scribes, or lawyers. He recognizes the distinction between Pharisee and Sadducee, and though he does not mention the latter by name, he characterizes them by their position. Jesus is the key to the sense in which John employs the term Jews. He regards them in their relation to Him. The idea underlying the word is habitually that of separation from the character and privileges of a true Israelite through their rejection of Jesus.
Sent (ἀπέστειλαν)
As a deputation. See on Joh 1:6.
Priests and Levites
Representing the ecclesiastical element of the nation; the two classes employed in the temple service. See Jos 3:3; Ch2 30:27; Eze 44:15. The combination occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. These deputies probably came from the Sanhedrim.
To ask (ἵνα ἐρωτήσωσιν)
Literally, in order that they should ask. See on Mat 15:23.
Who art thou (σὺ τίς εἶ)
Literally, thou, who art thou? |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The Jews - Probably the great council sent. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| And this is the record of John - He persisted in this assertion, testifying to the Jews that this Jesus was The Christ. |
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.
3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.