Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

百姓指望基督来的时候，人都心里猜疑，或者约翰是基督。

百姓期待基督的来临；他们心里猜测，或许约翰是基督。

百姓期待基督的来临；他们心里猜测，或许约翰是基督。

当时的百姓正期待着基督的来临，大家心里都在猜想，也许约翰就是基督。

那时众人正在期待，人人心里都在猜想会不会约翰就是基督。

当时，民众都在心里对约翰有期待并猜想，或许他就是基督。

百姓指望基督來的時候，人都心裏猜疑，或者約翰是基督。

百姓期待基督的來臨；他們心裏猜測，或許約翰是基督。

百姓期待基督的來臨；他們心裏猜測，或許約翰是基督。

當時的百姓正期待著基督的來臨，大家心裡都在猜想，也許約翰就是基督。

那時眾人正在期待，人人心裡都在猜想會不會約翰就是基督。

人民正期待着、眾人心裏正議論着約翰的事、以為他或者是基督、

當時，民眾都在心裡對約翰有期待並猜想，或許他就是基督。

民方冀望、人皆心議約翰或即基督、

民望基督、疑約翰即是否、

民適望基督、心疑約翰、即基督否、

民眾私心揣測、疑如望即為期待中之基督。

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.

The people were waiting. They were expecting something. They were all wondering in their hearts if John might be the Messiah.

As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.

Now while the people were in a state of expectation and they all were thinking carefully in their hearts about John, whether he himself perhaps was the Christ,

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;

Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds whether John might be the Messiah.

And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ,

As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,

The people surrounded him and asked,“ How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

You yourselves know how plainly I told you,‘ I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John,“ Who are you?”He came right out and said,“ I am not the Messiah.”“ Well then, who are you?” they asked.“ Are you Elijah?”“ No,” he replied.“ Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”“ No.”“ Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:“ I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘ Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”Then the Pharisees who had been sentasked him,“ If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”John told them,“ I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.