Acts 13:25

As John was fulfilling his course (w eplhrou Iwanh ton dromon). Imperfect active of plhrow, describing his vivid ministry without defining the precise period when John asked the question. Paul uses this word dromo (course) of his own race ( Acts 20:24 ; 2 Timothy 4:7 ). What suppose ye that I am? (Ti eme uponoeite einai?) Note ti (neuter), not tina (masculine), what not who, character, not identity. It is indirect discourse (the infinitive einai and the accusative of general reference). Huponoe (upo, noew) is to think secretly, to suspect, to conjecture. I am not he (ouk eimi egw). These precise words are not given in the Gospels, but the idea is the same as the disclaimers by the Baptist in John 1:19-27 (cf. also Matthew 3:11 ; Mark 1:7 ; Luke 3:16 ). Paul had a true grasp of the message of the Baptist. He uses the very form lsai (first aorist active infinitive of luw) found in Mark 1:7 ; Luke 3:16 and the word for shoes (upodhma, singular) in all three. His quotation is remarkably true to the words in the Synoptic Gospels. How did Paul get hold of the words of the Baptist so clearly?