Some of the people in the crowd is literally “from the crowd,” to which a subject must be supplied in translation. In 16.17 a similar expression occurs (literally “from the disciples”) which Good News Translation translates some of his disciples.

Heard him say this and said is literally “having heard these words, they said.” Good News Translation transforms a participle, “having heard,” into a finite verb, heard, and changes the vague noun phrase, “these words,” into a more explicit verb phrase, him say this. The relation between the events of hearing and speaking may be indicated as “After some of the people in the crowd had heard him say this, they said.”

In 1.21 also the Prophet is mentioned, and there also he is distinguished from the Messiah. To indicate that the Prophet is a recognized figure in Jewish eschatological thought, Good News Translation translates “prophet” with a capital “P”; New English Bible translates this term “the expected prophet.” In 6.14 the Prophet is referred to as the Prophet who was to come to the world. In translation one may use such terms as “the expected prophet,” “the prophet whom we had been led to expect,” “the prophet whom we have been expecting” or even “… have been waiting for” or “… looking forward to.”

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 .