John 1:43-46

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 1:43-51

We have here the call of Philip and Nathanael. I. Philip was called immediately by Christ himself, not as Andrew, who was directed to Christ by John, or Peter, who was invited by his brother. God has various methods of bringing his chosen ones home to himself. But, whatever means he uses, he is not tied to any. 1. Philip was called in a preventing was: Jesus findeth Philip. Christ sought us, and found us, before we made any enquiries after him. The name Philip is of Greek origin, and much used... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 1:43-51

1:43-51 On the next day Jesus determined to go away to Galilee; and there he found Philip. Jesus said to him: "Follow me!" Now Philip came from Bethsaida, which was the town from which Andrew and Peter came. Philip went and found Nathanael and said to him: "We have found the One about whom Moses wrote in the law, and about whom the prophets spoke--I mean Jesus, the son of Joseph, the man from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him: "Come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 1:43

The day following ,.... Not the day after John had pointed out Christ, as the Lamb of God, to two of his disciples; but the day after Simon had been with him, being brought by Andrew: Jesus would go forth into Galilee ; from whence he came to Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him; and which being done, and his temptations in the wilderness over, it was his will, resolution, and determination, to return to Galilee, the place of his education and conversation, till this time; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 1:44

Now Philip was of Bethsaida ,.... A town on the lake of Gennesaret, afterwards made a city by Philip the tetrarch, and called Julias, after the name of Caesar's daughter F13 Joseph. Antiqu. l. 18. c. 3. : it was a fishing town, and had its name from thence; and the disciples that were of it, were of this business: the city of Andrew and Peter ; or "Simon", as read the Syriac and Persic versions: three apostles were called out of this place, as mean, and wicked, as it was; see ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 1:45

Philip findeth Nathanael ,.... Who was of Cana of Galilee, John 21:2 and where, it is very likely, Philip found him; since we quickly read of Jesus, and his disciples being there. This man is thought, by some, to be the same with Bartholomew; and so he is called Bartholomew, in a Syriac dictionary F15 Bar Bahlui apud Castell Lex. Polyglott. col. 2437. ; and the rather, since he and Philip are always mentioned together in the account of the apostles, Matthew 10:3 . And certain it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 1:46

And Nathanael said unto him ,.... Taking notice of, and laying hold on what Philip said, that he was of Nazareth, which at once stumbled, and prejudiced him against Jesus being the Messiah; knowing very well that Bethlehem was to be the place of his birth: can there any good thing come out of Nazareth ? The whole country of Galilee was had in contempt with the Jews; but Nazareth was so mean a place, that it seems it was even despised by its neighbours, by the Galilaeans themselves; for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:43

Philip - This apostle was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee. Eusebius says he was a married man, and had several daughters. Clemens Alexandrinus mentions it as a thing universally acknowledged that it was this apostle who, when commanded by our Lord to follow him, said, Let me first go and bury my father, Matthew 8:21 , Matthew 8:22 . Theodoret says he preached in the two Phrygias; and Eusebius says he was buried in Phrygia Pacatiana. He must not be confounded with Philip the deacon,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:45

Nathanael - This apostle is supposed to be the same with Bartholomew, which is very likely, for these reasons That the evangelists who mention Bartholomew say nothing of Nathanael; and that St. John, who speaks of Nathanael, says nothing of Bartholomew. No notice is taken any where of Bartholomew's vocation, unless his and that of Nathanael mentioned here be the same. The name of Bartholomew is not a proper name; it signifies the son of Ptolomy; and Nathanael might have been his own... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:46

Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? - Bp. Pearce supposes that the τι αγαθον of the evangelist has some particular force in it: for, in Jeremiah 33:14 , God says, I will perform that good thing which I promised, etc.; and this, in Jeremiah 33:15 ; is explained to mean, his causing the branch of righteousness (i.e. the Messiah) to grow up unto David, from whom Jesus was descended: in this view, Nathanael's question seems to imply, that not Nazareth, but Bethlehem, was to be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:43

Verse 43 43.Follow me. When Philip was inflamed by this single word to follow Christ, we infer from it how great is the efficacy of the word of God; but it does not appear indiscriminately in all, for God addresses many without any advantage, just as if he struck their ears with a sound which vanished into air. So then the external preaching of the word is in itself unfruitful, except that it inflicts a deadly wound on the reprobate, so as to render them inexcusable before God. But when the... read more

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