42 Or “with expectation.” The participle προσδοκῶντος (prosdokōntos) is taken temporally. The people were filled with anticipation because they were hoping God would send someone to deliver them.
43 Grk “pondered in their hearts.”
44 Grk “in their hearts concerning John, (whether) perhaps he might be the Christ.” The translation simplifies the style here.
45 Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” See the note on Christ in .

In other versions

As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.

Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.

Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.

And while the people were waiting expectantly and all were pondering in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he might be the Christ,

And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

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