John 1:24 kjv

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

John 1:24 nkjv

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.

John 1:24 niv

Now the Pharisees who had been sent

John 1:24 esv

(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)

John 1:24 nlt

Then the Pharisees who had been sent

John 1 verses

John 1 24 Meaning

John 1:24 reveals the influential religious group behind the official delegation that questioned John the Baptist. It specifies that the priests and Levites, who sought to ascertain John's authority, were not merely curious individuals but had been formally commissioned and dispatched by the Pharisees. This indicates an official inquiry from a powerful and often adversarial religious faction, highlighting the institutional challenge to John's ministry.

John 1 24 Context

John 1:24 is situated within the broader narrative of John the Baptist's identity and mission, particularly following his direct confrontation by the priestly delegation sent from Jerusalem (John 1:19-23). The previous verses establish that this delegation inquired about his identity (Messiah, Elijah, Prophet) and, finding none, questioned his authority to baptize if he was none of these. This verse explicitly reveals the power behind the delegation: the Pharisees. This identification is crucial for understanding the historical and religious climate of first-century Judea. The Pharisees were a prominent religious and political party among the Jews, known for their strict adherence to the Law and their oral traditions. Their concern with John's activities suggests a challenge to established religious order and an investigation into whether his ministry was legitimate by their standards or potentially seditious or heretical. They represented a significant portion of Jewish religious authority and lay influence.

John 1 24 Word analysis

• Now (καὶ): Functions as a conjunction, connecting this verse directly to the preceding inquiry by the priests and Levites. It continues the narrative flow seamlessly, providing further crucial detail about the interrogators.
• they (αὐτοὶ): Refers specifically to the priests and Levites mentioned in John 1:19. While the sending party is the Pharisees, "they" refers to the ones carrying out the interrogation.
• had been sent (ἀπεσταλμένοι ἦσαν): This is a perfect passive participle with the imperfect verb "were," emphasizing a completed action in the past that has ongoing results. It signifies a formal, authoritative commissioning or delegation. They didn't just decide to come; they were sent by someone with authority. This Greek construction highlights the official nature of their mission, contrasting implicitly with John himself, who was "sent from God" (John 1:6).
• from (ἐκ): Denotes origin or source. In this context, it indicates that the authority to send the delegation originated "from" the Pharisees, implying their power and influence.
• the Pharisees (τῶν Φαρισαίων): A prominent Jewish religious and political party in Judea during the Second Temple period. Their name likely derives from the Aramaic "perisha" (separated ones), indicating their distinct observance of purity laws and oral traditions alongside the written Torah. They were known for their strict legalism, their emphasis on the oral tradition (later codified as the Mishnah), and their significant influence among the common people, despite often being in conflict with the ruling priestly Sadducees. Their involvement here immediately signifies a high-level, authoritative, and likely critical, interrogation of John's activities, as they generally rejected movements or teachings not sanctioned by their understanding of tradition.

Words-group analysis

• Now they had been sent: This phrase transitions from John's replies to revealing the origin of his questioners. The "had been sent" highlights the official and deliberate nature of the delegation, not a casual visit.
• sent from the Pharisees: This identifies the specific source of the authority that commissioned the interrogators. It underlines that John's challenge was not from casual onlookers, but from a powerful, organized religious group deeply invested in their own interpretations of religious authority and practice, and often skeptical of independent prophets. This sets up a crucial tension between divine authority (John's commission from God) and human religious authority (the Pharisees).

John 1 24 Bonus section

• The term ἀπεσταλμένοι (ap-es-tal-men-oi) which means "having been sent," shares its root with the word ἀπόστολος (apostolos), meaning "apostle" or "one who is sent." While the interrogators were sent by human authority, John the Baptist himself was ἀπεσταλμένοι by God (John 1:6), establishing a direct contrast between earthly and divine commissioning.
• The fact that it was specifically the Pharisees (and not the Sadducees, who controlled the priesthood but were generally more pragmatic and politically aligned with Rome) highlights a concern for religious and doctrinal purity. The Pharisees' interest likely stemmed from concerns over John's public baptisms and claims of a messianic precursor, actions that could challenge their interpretation of Jewish law and tradition.
• The delegation from the Pharisees serves as an early instance in John's Gospel of religious leadership questioning a divinely-sent figure. This sets a precedent for how the Jewish leadership would later interact with Jesus, often challenging His authority and demanding signs.

John 1 24 Commentary

John 1:24 provides a critical detail, identifying the true authority behind the delegation that questioned John the Baptist. By stating "Now they had been sent from the Pharisees," the Gospel immediately elevates the stakes of the interrogation. The priests and Levites were the front, but the strategic minds and controlling influence belonged to the Pharisees, a deeply influential religious faction. This reveals that John's powerful preaching and baptismal ministry had drawn the attention of those most zealous for strict adherence to tradition and eager to maintain religious order. Their official dispatch indicates a concern with John's authority, legitimacy, and potential implications for their religious structures. It frames the narrative not as a simple query, but as an institutional challenge from a powerful body often characterized in the Gospels as opposed to independent movements that challenged their interpretations of the Law and their authority.