John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:59
Then they took up stones to cast at him ,.... Supposing that he had spoken blasphemy; for they well understood that he, by so saying, made himself to be the eternal God, the unchangeable Jehovah. Should it be asked how they came by their stones in the temple? it may be replied, the temple was still building, John 2:20 , and stones, or pieces of stones, might lie about, with which they furnished themselves, in order to have destroyed Christ: and this they attempted, though it was on the... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you ,.... Whether it will be believed or not, it is certainly fact: before Abraham was, I am ; which is to be understood, not of his being in the purpose and decree of God, foreordained to sufferings, and to glory; for so all the elect of God may be said to be before Abraham, being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world: or that Christ was man, before Abraham became the father of many nations; that is, before the calling of... read more