John was about to finish his mission (literally, “race to run” or “course to follow”) may be rendered as “John would soon finish his task” or “soon John would not have more to do.”

Rather than reading the first part of John’s words as a question, who do you think I am?, some translations connect it with the following words and render it as a statement (Jerusalem Bible, “I am not the one you imagine me to be”). As has been previously indicated, the Greek manuscripts were not punctuated and there is nothing in the sentence itself or even in the context to indicate which alternative ought to be followed. If John’s words are phrased as a question, as in the Good News Translation, then the answer which John literally gave was “I am not he.” The Good News Translation has taken this to mean I am not the one you are waiting for while others understand it in the sense “I am not the one you think I am.” (See The Punctuation Apparatus in the UBS Greek New Testament for the decisions of various editions and translations.)

He is coming after me must be understood in a temporal sense, “he comes later than me” or “he comes as I am finishing.”

To take his sandals off his feet must be understood as being a service to Jesus and not as robbing him of his sandals. (Taking off someone else’s sandals was regarded as the menial task of a slave.) This may be introduced in some languages by saying “help him by taking sandals off his feet.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .