John 2:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 2:18-22

John 2:18-22. Then answered the Jews “A fact so public and remarkable as that just mentioned, could not but immediately come to the knowledge of the priests and rulers of the Jews, whose supreme council sat in a magnificent chamber belonging to the temple;” some of them, therefore, said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing thou doest these things That is, to prove thyself authorized and commissioned to do them? This they ask because it belonged only to the magistrate, as being... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 2:13-25

EARLY WORK IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA20. Cleansing the temple (John 2:13-25)From Capernaum Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover (John 2:13). When he visited the temple he found that its outer court (the Court of the Gentiles) was crowded with Jewish merchants and money changers. The merchants were selling animals for sacrifice, and the money changers were exchanging foreign money for money acceptable to the temple authorities. The place looked more like a market than a place of prayer. Jesus was... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 2:20

Forty and six years . Begun B.C. 20. See Josephus, Wars, I. xxi. 1. rear = raise. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 2:20

The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up, in three days?At this point, it is possible to check the historicity of John's Gospel; and it is no surprise to find it exactly accurate. Herod the Great began building the temple in 20-19 B.C.[19] Adding 46 years to that date brings the time of this first cleansing to 27-28 A.D. and adds strong evidence for the early date of this cleansing. Of course, the Jews construed Jesus' words in the most... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 2:20

John 2:20. Forty and six years was this temple, &c.— Hath this temple been in building. Heylin. Though Herod finished what he proposed in eight or nine years, yet the Jews continued to beautify and adorn the temple for many years afterwards, even to the year 65. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 2:20

20. Forty and six years—From the eighteenth year of Herod till then was just forty-six years [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 15.11.1]. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 2:13-22

1. The first cleansing of the temple 2:13-22The Synoptics record Jesus’ cleansing of the temple after His triumphal entry (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-16; Luke 19:45-46). Only John noted this cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The differences between the two cleansing incidents and their placement in the chronology of Jesus’ ministry argue for two cleansings rather than one. [Note: See W. Hendriksen, Exposition of the Gospel According to John , 1:120; and Morris, pp.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 2:13-36

C. Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem 2:13-3:36John is the only evangelist who recorded this trip to Jerusalem and the things that happened then."In distinction from the Synoptics, John’s record focuses mostly on events in Jesus’ life that took place in Jerusalem, and especially at the Passover feasts." [Note: Bailey, p. 164.] Josephus indicated that as many as three million Jews occupied Jerusalem during the Passover feasts. [Note: Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, 6:9:3; cf. 2:14:3.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 2:20-22

John 2:20 provides an important chronological marker in the life of Jesus. It enables us to date His visit to the temple here as happening in A.D. 30. [Note: See Hoehner, pp. 38-43.] Work on Herod’s Temple had been proceeding for 46 years. It was not completed until A.D. 63.Jesus’ critics assumed that He was speaking of Herod’s temple, but John interpreted His true meaning for his readers. Even Jesus’ disciples did not understand what He meant until after His resurrection. The Scripture they... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - John 2:20

2:20 temple (f-11) Naos . The house itself -- the shrine. read more

Group of Brands