Bare witness (emarturēsen). First aorist active indicative of martureō. Another specimen of John’s witness to the Messiah (Joh 1:7, Joh 1:15, Joh 1:19, Joh 1:29, Joh 1:35, Joh 1:36).
I have beheld (tetheamai). Perfect middle indicative of theaomai, the realization of the promise of the sign (Joh 1:33) by which he should recognize the Messiah. As a matter of fact, we know that he so recognized Jesus as Messiah when he came for baptism before the Holy Spirit came (Mat 3:14.). But this sight of the Spirit descending as a dove upon Jesus at his baptism (Mar 1:10; Mat 3:16; Luk 3:22) became permanent proof to him. John’s allusion assumes the Synoptic record. The Semites regarded the dove as a symbol of the Spirit.