{When therefore} (H(9373) oun). Reference to  3:22f . the work
of the Baptist and the jealousy of his disciples. Oun is very
common in John's Gospel in such transitions. {The Lord} (ho
Kurios). So the best manuscripts (Neutral Alexandrian), though
the Western class has ho I(8873)ous. Mark usually has ho I(8873)ous
and Luke often ho Kurios. In the narrative portion of John we
have usually ho I(8873)ous, but ho Kurios in five passages ( 4:1  6:23  11:2  20:20  21:12 ). There is no reason why John should
not apply ho Kurios to Jesus in the narrative sections as well
as Luke. Bernard argues that these are "explanatory glosses," not
in the first draft of the Gospel. But why? When John wrote his
Gospel he certainly held Jesus to be Kurios (Lord) as Luke did
earlier when he wrote both Gospel and Acts This is
hypercriticism. {Knew} (egn(935c)). Second aorist active indicative
of gin(9373)k(935c). The Pharisees knew this obvious fact. It was easy
for Jesus to know the attitude of the Pharisees about it
( 2:24 ). Already the Pharisees are suspicious of Jesus. {How
that} (hoti). Declarative hoti (indirect assertion). {Was
making and baptizing more disciples than John} (pleionas
math(8874)as poiei kai baptizei (8820)I(9361)n(8873)). Present active indicative
in both verbs retained in indirect discourse. Recall the
tremendous success of John's early ministry ( Mr 1:5  Mt 3:5  Lu
3:7,15 ) in order to see the significance of this statement that
Jesus had forged ahead of him in popular favour. Already the
Pharisees had turned violently against John who had called them
broods of vipers. It is most likely that they drew John out about
the marriage of Herod Antipas and got him involved directly with
the tetrarch so as to have him cast into prison ( Lu 3:19f. ).
Josephus (_Ant_. XVIII. v. 2) gives a public reason for this act
of Herod Antipas, the fear that John would "raise a rebellion,"
probably the public reason for his private vengeance as given by
Luke. Apparently John was cast into prison, though recently still
free ( Joh 3:24 ), before Jesus left for Galilee. The Pharisees,
with John out of the way, turn to Jesus with envy and hate.