John 3:25

μετὰ Ἰουδαίου for μ. Ἰουδαίων.

25. ἐγένετο οὖν. There arose therefore; in consequence of Jesus and John baptizing so near together. The Evangelist’s favourite particle to mark a sequence in fact: see Introduction, Chap. John 3:6 (c).

ζήτησις ἐκ κ.τ.λ. Questioning on the part of the disciples of John with a Jew. The common reading Ἰουδαίων is respectably supported, but seems quite out of place; with Ἰουδαίου, which has far the strongest support, one expects τινος. The questioning may have been as to the efficacy of John’s baptism compared with Christ’s, or with the ordinary ceremonial purifications. Ἐκ implies that John’s disciples started the discussion, and it ends in their going at once to their master for his opinion about Jesus and His success.