John 1:32

32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.

John 1:32 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:32

And John bare record
The same day that he said the above things, and at the same time:

saying, I saw the Spirit;
that is, of God, as is said in ( Matthew 3:16 ) and which Nonnus here expresses; and the Ethiopic version reads, "the Holy Ghost",

descending from heaven like a dove;
at the time of his baptism; (See Gill on Matthew 3:16).

And it abode upon him;
for some time; so long as that John had a full sight of it, and so was capable of giving a perfect account of it, and bearing a certain and distinct testimony to it.

John 1:32 In-Context

30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’

31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.

33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God. ”