This is he on behalf of £ whom I said, After me cometh a man ( ἀνήρ is used as a term of higher dignity than ἄνθρωπος, and is made more explicit by the positive appearance of the Holy One whom he had just recognized and pointed out to his disciples) who became before me—in human and other activities under the Old Testament covenant—because he was before me; in the deepest sense, having an eternal self-consciousness, a Divine pre-existence, apart from all his dealings and doings with man (see notes on John 1:15, John 1:26, John 1:27).
If the shorter reading of John 1:26, John 1:27 be correct, then the occasion on which this great utterance was first made is not described. If it be not expunged from John 1:26, John 1:27, we may imagine that John is now referring to what he said on the previous day to the Sanhedrim.
If internal reasons may help to decide a reading, I should be inclined, with Godet as against Meyer, to say that this is the obvious reference. Here, too, the ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν is added as explanation of what was enigmatical in verse 26.
The whole saying has already found place in the prologue. The threefold citation reveals the profound impression which the words of the Baptist had made upon his most susceptible disciple.