King James Bible
"And they which were sent were of the Pharisees."
This refers back to the delegation from Jerusalem mentioned in verse 19, clarifying their mission was official and authorized. The passive construction emphasizes they were acting under orders from religious authorities, not personal curiosity. The Pharisees were a strict Jewish sect known for meticulous law-keeping and concern about ritual purity. Their involvement explains the delegation's persistent, detailed questioning of John the Baptist about his identity and baptizing authority, as they zealously guarded religious orthodoxy.