Charles Ellicott Commentary John 1:20

"And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ." — John 1:20 (ASV)

Confessed, and denied not; but confessed.—Compare for the style, Note on John 1:3.

I am not.—The better reading places the pronoun in the most emphatic position: “It is not I who am the Messiah.” He understands their question, then, Who art thou? as expressing the general expectation, “Is it you who are the Messiah?”