And I knew him not
That is, before he came to be baptized by him; when it was
secretly suggested to him who he was, and the following signal
was given him, to confirm him in it:
but he that sent me to baptize with water;
or "in water"; that is, God; for John's mission was from God, as
in ( John 1:6 )
, and his baptism from heaven; he had a divine warrant and
commission for what he did:
the same said unto me;
either by an articulate voice, or by a divine impulse on his
mind, or by the revelation of the Spirit:
upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and
remaining on him,
the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost;
that is, the Messiah; (See Gill on Matthew
3:11), (See Gill on Matthew
3:16).