The many people referred to in this verse may have been disciples of John the Baptist, but the translator should not attempt to make explicit this sort of information.

The Gospels do not indicate that John the Baptist performed any miracles (literally “signs”; see 2.11). Not only did John perform no miraculous works, but he refused to accept any of the Jewish Messianic titles (see 1.19-23).

It is impossible to determine precisely the point of reference in the people’s affirmation everything he had said about this man was true, since John the Baptist had referred to Jesus both as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (1.29) and as the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (1.33). The declaration should perhaps be interpreted in the more general sense that Jesus had fulfilled all the Old Testament predictions and all the hopes of John the Baptist.

It may be necessary to indicate to whom the people spoke when they said everything he said about this man was true. In view of the fact that Jesus is referred to as this man, it is best to translate “they said to one another,” thus avoiding the possible misunderstanding that they said it to Jesus.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .