οὖν. This refers back to John 3:22-26. Of the many who came to Jesus some told the Pharisees (see on John 1:24) of His success, as others told the Baptist, and this was reported to Him again: ὁ κύριος here, which is rarely used except by S. Luke of Christ before the Resurrection (John 6:23; John 11:2; Luke 10:1; Luke 11:39; Luke 12:42; Luke 17:5-6, &c.) is no evidence that the knowledge was supernatural. see on John 2:25.

ποιεῖ κ. βαπτ. Is making and baptizing; the very words of the report. This is important for the meaning of John 4:2, which is a correction not of S. John’s statement, but of the report to the Pharisees: in A.V. the Evangelist seems to be correcting himself.

ἣ Ἰωάν. They had less objection to John’s success. He disclaimed being the Messiah, he ‘did no miracle,’ and he took his stand on the Law. They understood his position better than that of Jesus, and feared it less. Jesus had been proclaimed as the Messiah, He wrought miracles, and He shewed scant respect to traditions.

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Old Testament