John 2:18-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 2:12-22

Here we have, I. The short visit Christ made to Capernaum, John 2:12. It was a large and populous city, about a day's journey from Cana; it is called his own city (Matt. 9:1), because he made it his head-quarters in Galilee, and what little rest he had was there. It was a place of concourse, and therefore Christ chose it, that the fame of his doctrine and miracles might thence spread the further. Observe, 1. The company that attended him thither: his mother, his brethren, and his disciples.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 2:17-22

2:17-22 His disciples remembered that there is a scripture which stands written: "For zeal for your house has consumed me." Then the Jews demanded of him: "What sign do you show us to justify your acting in this way?" Jesus answered: "Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said: "It has taken forty-six years to build the Temple so far, and are you going to raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body. So when he was raised from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 2:18

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him ,.... They did not lay hands on him, or offer any violence to him; they did not, as the inhabitants of Nazareth did, thrust him out, and lead him to a precipice, to cast him down headlong; nor did they take up stones to stone him, as they afterwards did, when he asserted his deity: and it is surprising, that they did not rise up and destroy him at once, a single man, unarmed, and without assistance, having so highly provoked them; the restraint upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 2:19

Jesus answered and said unto them ,.... In a dark and enigmaticai way, though very properly and pertinently; since it was with respect to the temple, and his power over it, and right to purge it, that a sign was required of him: destroy this temple ; pointing, as it were, with his finger to his body; for of that he spake, as appears from John 2:21 , the dissolution of which, by death he means, the separation of his soul from his body, though not of either from his divine person: and it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 2:20

Then said the Jews ,.... Unto him, as read the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions: forty and six years was this temple in building ; which cannot be understood of the temple as built by Solomon, for that was but seven years in building, 1 Kings 6:37 . But rather of the temple, as built by Zorobabel, commonly called the second temple, and might be more properly said to be "this temple"; the calculations of this made by learned men, are various and endless to recite. Daniel's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 2:18

What sign showest thou - See on Matthew 12:38 ; (note); Matthew 16:1 ; (note). When Moses came to deliver Israel, he gave signs, or miracles, that he acted under a Divine commission. What miracle dost thou work to show us that thou art vested with similar authority? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 2:19

Destroy this temple - Τον ναον τουτον , This very temple; perhaps pointing to his body at the same time. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 2:20

Forty and six years was this temple in building - The temple of which the Jews spake was begun to be rebuilt by Herod the Great, in the 18th year of his reign: Josephus. Ant. b. xv. c. 11, s. 1; and xx. c. 9, s. 5, 7. But though he finished the main work in nine years and a half, yet some additional buildings or repairs were constantly carried on for many years afterwards. Herod began the work sixteen years before the birth of our Lord: the transactions which are here related took place in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 2:18

Verse 18 18.What sign showest thou to us? When in so large an assembly no man laid hands on Christ, and none of the dealers in cattle or of the money-changers repelled him by violence, we may conclude that they were all stunned and struck with astonishment by the hand of God. And, therefore, if they had not been utterly blinded, this would have been a sufficiently evident miracle, that one man against a great multitude, an unarmed man against strong men, all unknown man against so great rulers,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 2:19

Verse 19 19.Destroy this temple. This is an allegorical mode of expression; and Christ intentionally spoke with that degree of obscurity, because he reckoned them unworthy of a direct reply; as he elsewhere declares that he speaks to them in parables, because they are unable to comprehend the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom, (Matthew 13:13.) But first he refuses to them the sign which they demanded, either because it would have been of no advantage, or because he knew that it was not the... read more

Group of Brands