John 6:16-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 6:15-21

Here is, I. Christ's retirement from the multitude. 1. Observe what induced him to retire; because he perceived that those who acknowledged him to be that prophet that should come into the world would come, and take him by force, to make him a king, John 6:15. Now here we have an instance, (1.) Of the irregular zeal of some of Christ's followers; nothing would serve but they would make him a king. Now, [1.] This was an act of zeal for the honour of Christ, and against the contempt which the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 6:16-21

6:16-21 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, and, when they had embarked upon a boat, they started across the sea to Capernaum. By this time darkness had come on, and Jesus had not yet come to them; and the sea was roused because a great wind was blowing. So, when they had rowed between three and four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and coming near the boat, and they were afraid. But he said to them: "It is I don't be afraid." So they wished to take him on board... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:16

And when even was now come ,.... The last of the evenings, when night was coming on; for the first of the evenings took place before they sat down to eat, when the above miracle was wrought; see Matthew 14:15 . His disciples went down unto the sea ; of Galilee, or Tiberias, to the sea side; and this was by the order, and even constraint of Christ, who would have them go before him, that he might be clear of the multitude, and have an opportunity for solitary prayer, See Gill on ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:17

And entered into a ship ,.... In which they came, and was waiting for them; or into another: and went over the sea towards Capernaum ; steered their course from Bethsaida, where they took shipping over the sea of Galilee; at least over one part of it, a creek or bay of it, as they intended, towards the city of Capernaum, which lay over against Bethsaida: and it was now dark ; quite night, which made their voyage more uncomfortable, especially as it afterwards was tempestuous: but the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:18

And the sea arose ,.... Swelled, and was tumultuous and raging; the waves mounted up, and tossed the ship to and fro: by reason of a great wind that blew ; which agitated the waters of the sea, and lifted up the waves; which storm seems to have arose after they had set sail, and were got into the midst of the sea. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:19

So when they had rowed ,.... For the wind being contrary, they could not make use of their sails, but betook themselves to their oars, and by that means got about five and twenty, or thirty furlongs ; which were three or four miles, or little more than a league; no further had they got, though they had been rowing from the time it was dark, to the fourth watch, which was after three o'clock in the morning; all this while they had been tossed in the sea; they saw Jesus walking on the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:20

But he saith to them, it is I, be not afraid. See Gill on Matthew 14:27 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:21

Then they willingly received him into the ship ,.... When they knew who he was; and especially he was the more welcome, as they were in distress; and he able, as they well knew, to help them: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went ; which was done, as Nonnus observes, by a divine motion; for not only the wind ceased, but another miracle was wrought; the ship was in an instant at the place whither they intended to go. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:17

Toward Capernaum - St. Mark says, Mark 6:45 , that our Lord commanded them to go along to Bethsaida; and in the course of the history we find they got neither to Bethsaida nor Capernaum, but landed in the country of Genesaret: Matthew 14:34 . Our Lord seems to have desired them to go either to Bethsaida or Capernaum, which were only a very few miles distant, and on the same side of the sea. The reason why they could reach neither was the storm which the evangelists say rose at the time,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:19

Had rowed - Their vessel was a small one only, something of the boat kind: as to sails, if they had any, they could not now venture to carry them, because of the storm. Five and twenty or thirty furlongs - Between three and four miles. The sea of Tiberias, on which they now were, was, according to Josephus, War, book iii. chap. 25, forty furlongs, or five miles in breadth; and one hundred and forty furlongs, or eighteen miles, in length. Pliny, lib. v. chap. 15, makes it about six miles... read more

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