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PER032
The delegation from Jerusalem
The article explores John the Baptist's meeting with the Sanhedrin's representatives at Bethany, highlighting his renown and the authorities' messianic expectations. John is questioned about his messianic role despite performing no miracles, revealing the Pharisees' expectations of a royal and priestly messiah. The analysis reconciles differing Gospel accounts.
John 1.19-28 (King James Version) :And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org