Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 1:16-21

"For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him]. And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No." — John 1:16-21 (ASV)

And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet?

And he answered, No.

As they meant, "Are you, literally, the prophet Elijah risen from the dead?"

John said, "I am not." "Are you that prophet whom Moses foretold?"

And he answered, No. John gave short, sharp answers to these quibblers.

He was not a man of dainty words and polished sentences, especially in dealing with such people as they were.