John 1:26

I baptize. See on Matt. 3:11.

There standeth one. Jesus had been baptized (cf. vs. 29-34) at least 40 days before this, and had but recently returned from the wilderness (see on Matt. 3:13 to 4:11; cf. DA 137). John saw Jesus as he spoke and expected Him to respond to the announcement he now made (DA 137).

The Gospel of John says nothing of Jesus’ baptism. One explanation of John’s silence on this and other important incidents is that he pre-supposes acquaintance on the part of his intended readers with accounts already available to them in the Synoptic Gospels. For comment on Christ’s baptism see on Matt. 3:13-17.

Whom ye know not. The word “know” is from the Gr. oida. More than three years later the priests and elders declared that they will could not “tell” (Gr. oida) whether John the Baptist had been divinely appointed (Matt. 21:27). The priests and Levites who had come to interrogate John scanned the audience, but saw no one to whom they thought John’s description might apply (DA 136). But John spoke primarily of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah of prophecy. In the darkness of their souls these spiritual leaders failed to apprehend the true Light (see on John 1:5), they “knew him not” (v. 10) and therefore “received him not” (v. 11; cf. vs. 31-33; chs. 8:19; 14:7, 9; 16:3). Neither they nor those who sent them were able to reach a decision they were prepared to announce publicly and according took a noncommittal attitude (see on Matt. 21:23-27).