Giovanni 1:22

22 Essi adunque gli dissero Chi sei? acciocchè rendiamo risposta a coloro che ci hanno mandati; che dici tu di te stesso?

Giovanni 1:22 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:22

Then said they unto him, who art thou?
&c.] Since, as yet, he had only answered in negatives, who he was not, that he was not the Christ, nor Elias, nor that prophet; they desire he would give them a positive account who he was: that we may give answer to them that sent us;
that their labour might not be in vain; that they might not come so far for nothing, without knowing who he was; and that they might be capable of giving an account of him to the sanhedrim: what sayest thou of thyself?
they insisted on it, that he would openly, and honestly declare who he was, and what was his office and business; that from his own mouth, and not from the opinion and conjectures of others, they might represent him in a true light to those who had deputed them on this errand.

Giovanni 1:22 In-Context

20 Ed egli riconobbe chi egli era, e nol negò; anzi lo riconobbe, dicendo: Io non sono il Cristo.

21 Ed essi gli domandarono: Che sei dunque? Sei tu Elia? Ed egli disse: Io nol sono. Sei tu il Profeta? Ed egli rispose: No.

22 Essi adunque gli dissero Chi sei? acciocchè rendiamo risposta a coloro che ci hanno mandati; che dici tu di te stesso?

23 Egli disse: Io son la voce di colui che grida nel deserto: Addirizzate la via del Signore, siccome il profeta Isaia ha detto.

24 Or coloro ch’erano stati mandati erano d’infra i Farisei.