John 1:20

20 And he confessed--and he did not deny, and confessed--"I am not the Christ!"

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, God, the one who is in the bosom of the Father--that one has made [him] known.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem so that they could ask him, "Who are you?"

20 And he confessed--and he did not deny, and confessed--"I am not the Christ!"

21 And they asked him, "Then who [are] you? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not!" "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No!"

22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, so that we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"