John answered, saying unto them all
For some of them might not only so think in their hearts, but
express with their mouths the apprehension they had of him; and
might put the question to him, as the priests and Levites from
Jerusalem afterwards did; or he might know the secret thoughts of
their hearts by divine revelation; or be apprized by his
disciples of the private sentiments of the people concerning him:
and therefore, to put them out of doubt, and that he might not
have an honour conferred on him, which did not belong to him, he
addressed himself, in a very public manner, to the whole
multitude, in the hearing of them all: though the word "all" is
left out in the Syriac and Persic versions, but rightly retained
in others, being in all copies, and having a considerable
emphasis on it: and said the following words.
I indeed baptize you with water;
Matthew adds "unto repentance"; upon the profession of
repentance:
but one mightier than I cometh;
that is, after me;
as Matthew records it:
the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to
unloose;
neither to bear his shoes after him, as Matthew says, nor to
untie his shoe string, or unbuckle his shoe, both which were
menial actions with the Jews: he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost, and with fire; as he did some of their nation, his own
disciples, on the day of pentecost; (See Gill on Matthew
3:11)