John 1:33

“And I knew him not, etc.] 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 (<430106>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 “<400311>Matthew…”

“The same said ... - This was the sign by which he was to know the Messiah. He was to see the Spirit descending like a dove and abiding on him. It does not follow, however, that he had no intimation before this that Jesus was the Christ, but it means that by this he should know it infallibly. From Matthew 3:13-14, it seems that John supposed, before the baptism of Jesus, that he claimed to be the Messiah, and, that he believed it; but the infallible, certain testimony in the case was the descent of the Holy Spirit on him at his baptism. That this is the Son of God - This was distinctly declared by a voice from heaven at his baptism, Matthew 3:17. This John heard, and he testified that he had…”

“I knew: Joh 1:31; Mat 3:13-15 the same: Joh 3:5, Joh 3:34; Mat 3:11, Mat 3:14; Mar 1:7, Mar 1:8; Luk 3:16; Act 1:5, Act 2:4, Act 10:44-47; Act 11:15, Act 11:16, Act 19:2-6; Co1 12:13; Tit 3:5, Tit 3:6 John 1:34”