Albert Barnes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

“In the beginning - This expression is used also in Gen 1:1. John evidently has allusion here to that place, and he means to apply to “the Word” an expression which is there applied “to God.””

Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

“All things - The universe. The expression cannot be limited to any part of the universe. It appropriately expresses everything which exists - all the vast masses of material worlds, and all the animals and things, great or small, that compose those worlds.”

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

“The light shineth in darkness - Darkness, in the Bible, commonly denotes ignorance, guilt, or misery. See Isa 9:1-2; Mat 4:16; Act 26:18; Eph 5:8, Eph 5:11; Rom 13:12. It refers here to a wicked and ignorant people.”

He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.

“For a witness - To give testimony. He came to prepare the minds of the people to receive him Matt. 3; Luke 3; to lead them by repentance to God; and to point out the Messiah to Israel when he came, Joh 1:31.”

The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.

“That was the true Light - Not John, but the Messiah. He was not a false, uncertain, dangerous guide, but was one that was true, real, steady, and worthy of confidence.”

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

“He came unto his own - His own “land” or “country.” It was called his land because it was the place of his birth, and also because it was the chosen land where God delighted to dwell and to manifest his favor. See Isa 5:1-7.”

children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

“Which were born - This doubtless refers to the “new birth,” or to the great change in the sinner’s mind called regeneration or conversion.”

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

“The law was given - The Old Testament economy. The institutions under which the Jews lived. By Moses - By Moses, as the servant of God. He was the great legislator of the Jews, by whom, under God, their polity was formed.”

And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

“This is the record - The word “record” here means “testimony,” in whatever way given. The word “record” now commonly refers to “written” evidence. This is not its meaning here. John’s testimony was given without writing. When the Jews sent - John’s fame was great.”

Then the Pharisees who had been sent

“Were of the Pharisees - For an account of this sect, see the notes at Mat 3:7. Why they are particularly mentioned is not certainly known.”

asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

“Why baptizest thou then ... - Baptism on receiving a proselyte from “paganism” was common before the time of John, but it was not customary to baptize a “Jew.” John had changed the custom.”

He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

“Whose shoe’s latchet - See the notes at Mat 3:11. The “latchet” of sandals was the string or thong by which they were fastened to the feet.”

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

“The next day - The day after the Jews made inquiry whether he was the Christ. Behold the Lamb of God - A “lamb,” among the Jews, was killed and eaten at the Passover to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, Exo 12:3-11.”

I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”

“I knew him not - John was not personally acquainted with Jesus. Though they were remotely related to each other, yet it seems that they had had heretofore no personal acquaintance. John had lived chiefly in the hill country of Judea.”

I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is…

“The same said ... - This was the sign by which he was to know the Messiah. He was to see the Spirit descending like a dove and abiding on him.”

And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

“They followed Jesus - They had been the disciples of John. his office was to point out the Messiah. When that was done, they left at once their master and teacher, John. and followed the long-expected Messiah.”

“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.

“Come and see - This was a kind and gracious answer. He did not put them off to some future period. Then, as now, he was willing that they should come at once and enjoy the full opportunity which they desired of his conversation.”

He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).

“He first findeth - He found him and “told him about Jesus” before he brought him to Jesus. We have found the Messias - They had learned from the testimony of John, and now had been more fully convinced from conversation with Jesus, that he…”

The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”

“Would go forth - Was about to go. Into Galilee - He was now in Judea, where he went to be baptized by John. He was now about to return to his native country.”

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

“Moses, in the law - Moses, in that part of the Old Testament which he wrote, called by the Jews “the law.” See Deu 18:15, Deu 18:18; Gen 49:10; Gen 3:15. And the prophets - Isa 53:1-12; Isa 9:6-7; Dan 9:24-27; Jer 23:5-6; etc.”

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”

“An Israelite indeed - One who is really an Israelite - not by birth only, but one worthy of the name.”

“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

“Rabbi - Master. Applied appropriately to Jesus, and to no one else, Mat 23:10. The Son of God - By this title he doubtless meant that he was the Messiah.”

Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

“Verily, verily - In the Greek, “Amen, amen.” The word “amen” means “truly, certainly, so be it” - from the Hebrew verb to confirm, to establish, to be true. It is often used in this gospel.”

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,

“And the third day - On the third day after his conversation with Nathanael. Cana - This was a small town about 15 miles northwest of Tiberias and 6 miles northeast of Nazareth.”

When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

“When they wanted wine - A marriage feast among the Jews was commonly observed for seven or eight days.”