And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize with water, said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him, he it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
John Gill
And I knew him not,.... 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 Joh 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 Mat 3:11, Mat 3:16.
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.