John 1:20

20 He confessed, and didn't deny, but he confessed, "I am not the Messiah."

John 1:20 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:20

And he confessed, and denied not
He freely, and without any reserve, declared, and in the plainest and strongest terms professed to the messengers before all the people, that he was not the Messiah; nor did he retract his confession, or draw in his words again, or drop any thing that looked doubtful or suspicious; but confessed, I am not the Christ:
he stood to it, and insisted on it, that he was not that illustrious person; nor had they any reason to entertain such an opinion of him; nor would he have them do so; they might assure themselves he was not Christ.

John 1:20 In-Context

18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

19 This is Yochanan's testimony, when the Yehudim sent Kohanim and Levites from Yerushalayim to ask him, "Who are you?"

20 He confessed, and didn't deny, but he confessed, "I am not the Messiah."

21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Eliyah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."

22 They said therefore to him, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"