Matthew 3:15

ἀποκριθείς. ἀποκρίνομαι is the Attic word in this sense. (ὑποκρίνοιντο, Thuc. VII. 4, is a possible exception.) ὑποκρίνομαι Homeric and Ionic. Alexandrine Greek here, contrary to the general rule, follows the Attic rather than the Homeric use. ὑποκρίνομαι occurs once only in the N.T. (Luke 20:20), and there in the sense of ‘feigning.’ The aor. 1. passive (ἀποκριθείς) in middle sense is late. It occurs in Plato Alc. II. 149 B, but the genuineness of that dialogue is doubtful; see Lid. and Scott. The aor. 1. mid. is rare in the N.T. See ch. Matthew 27:12.

ἄφες. Sc. ἐμὲ βαπτισθῆναι.

ἡμῖν, us. It was the privilege of John to share the work of the Messiah.

δικαιοσύνην. Here = ‘the requirements of the law.’