John 10:24

Context
10:24 The Jewish leaders¹ surrounded him and asked,² “How long will you keep us in suspense?³ If you are the Christ,⁴ tell us plainly.”⁵

Acts 13:25

Context
13:25 But while John was completing his mission,⁶ he said repeatedly,⁷ ‘What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’⁸

Acts 19:4

Context
19:4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,⁹ that is, in Jesus.”

[10:24] ¹tn Or “the Jewish authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish leaders. The question they ask Jesus (“Are you the Christ?”) is the same one they sent and asked of John the Baptist in the desert (see John 1:19-34). See also the note on the phrase “the Jewish people” in v. 19.

[10:24] ²tn Grk “said to him.” This has been translated as “asked” for stylistic reasons.

[10:24] ³tn Grk “How long will you take away our life?” (an idiom which meant to keep one from coming to a conclusion about something). The use of the phrase τὴν ψυχὴν ἡμῶν αἴρεις (thn yuchn Jhmwn airei") meaning “to keep in suspense” is not well attested, although it certainly fits the context here. In modern Greek the phrase means “to annoy, bother.”

[10:24] ⁴tn Or “the Messiah” (Both Greek “Christ” and Hebrew and Aramaic “Messiah” mean “one who has been anointed”).

[10:24] ⁵tn Or “publicly.”

[13:25] ⁶tn Or “task.”

[13:25] ⁷tn The verb ἔλεγεν (elegen) has been translated as an iterative imperfect, since John undoubtedly said this or something similar on numerous occasions.

[13:25] ⁸tn Literally a relative clause, “of whom I am not worthy to untie the sandals of his feet.” Because of the awkwardness of this construction in English, a new sentence was begun here.

[19:4] ⁹sn These disciples may have had their contact with John early on in the Baptist’s ministry before Jesus had emerged. This is the fifth time Luke links John the Baptist and Jesus (Acts 1:5; 11:16; 13:25; 18:25).