John Gill

After two days, Jesus left for Galilee.

“Now after two days he departed thence,.... When he had stayed two days at Sychar conversing with, and discoursing to the Samaritans, which were the means of the conversion of many of them; he departed out of that country, and passed on his way: and…”

So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.

“So Jesus came again unto Cana of Galilee,.... Where he had been once before; see Joh 2:1. The Syriac version here, as there, calls it "Kotne" of Galilee; and the Persic version, "Catneh" of Galilee: where he made the water wine; see Joh 2:9; there…”

Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

“Then said Jesus unto him,.... With some degree of roughness in his speech, and severity in his countenance, in a way of reproof for his unbelief, as if he could not heal his son without going down to Capernaum along with him: except ye see…”

This was now the second sign that Jesus performed after coming from Judea into Galilee.

“This is again the second miracle that Jesus did,.... That is, in that place, in Cana of Galilee; for otherwise, in Jerusalem and Judea, he had done many miracles, between the former and this; see Joh 2:23; and so the following words explain it: when…”

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda.

“Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market,.... The word "market" is not in the text, and of such a market, no account is given in the Scripture, nor in the Jewish writings; and besides, in our Lord's time, sheep and oxen were sold…”

One man there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

“And a certain man was there,.... At Bethesda's pool, in one of the five porches, or cloisters, that belonged to it: which had an infirmity thirty and eight years; what his infirmity was, is not said; he was one of the weak, or impotent folk…”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.

“The impotent man answered him, Sir,.... Which was a common and courteous way of speaking, much in use with the Jews, especially to strangers.”

Then Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”

“Jesus saith to him, rise,.... From thy bed, or couch, on which he lay in one of the porches: and take up thy bed and walk; these words were spoken by the same power, as those to Lazarus, which called him out of his grave…”

so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

“That all men should honour the Son,.... This is the end of all judgment, and the exercise of all authority, and power being committed to him; namely, that he might have the honour given him by men that is due unto him: even as they…”

I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him…

“I can of mine own self do nothing,.... This is the conclusion of the matter, the winding up of the several arguments concerning the Son's equality to the Father, and the application of the whole to Christ.”

If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid.

“If I bear witness of myself,.... Which was not allowed any man to do; nor indeed is it proper that a man should be a witness in his own cause: and, according to the Jewish canons, a man might not be a witness for his…”

There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid.

“There is another that beareth witness of me,.... Meaning not his Father, who is another, and a distinct person, from him, as the Spirit is another comforter; and both distinct testifiers from him, as well as of him.”

You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

“Ye sent unto John,.... The sanhedrim at Jerusalem made a deputation of priests and Levites to him, to know who he was, whether the Messiah, or Elias, or that prophet, Joh 1:”

nor does His word abide in you, because you do not believe the One He sent.

“And ye have not his word abiding in you,.... Which some understand of Christ himself, the Logos, or word: who, though he was now with them, being made flesh, and dwelling among them, yet would not long continue with them: though rather this designs the…”

You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,

“Search the Scriptures,.... The writings of Moses, and the prophets, which were of divine inspiration and authority, and are often appealed unto by Christ, and his apostles, for the truth of what they delivered; and were the standard of faith, and the test of doctrines…”

Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope.

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father,.... To God the Father, as the Ethiopic version reads. The Syriac and Persic versions read by way of interrogation, "do ye think that I will?" &c.”

After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias).

“After these things,.... After Christ's curing the man at Bethesda's pool, and the vindication of himself for doing it or the sabbath day, and for asserting his equality with God; near a year after these things: for these were done at the feast of the…”

A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick.

“And a great multitude followed him,.... From several cities and towns in Galilee, where he had been preaching and working miracles: because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased; so that it was not for the sake of his doctrine…”

Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.

“And Jesus went up into a mountain,.... In a desert place near Bethsaida, Luk 9:10; and there he sat with his disciples; partly for security from the cruelty of Herod, having just heard of the beheading of John; and partly for privacy, that he might…”

Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near.

“And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. This was the third passover, since our Lord's baptism, and entrance on his public ministry; see Joh 2:13.”

When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”

“When Jesus then lift up his eyes,.... Being before engaged in close conversation with his disciples, and looking wistly and intently on them, whilst he was discoursing with them: and saw a great company come unto him; who came on foot, over the bridge at…”

Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”

“Philip answered him,.... Very quick and short, and in a carnal and unbelieving way: two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them.”

One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,

“One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother,.... Who also, and his brother Peter, were of Bethsaida, as well as Philip, and was a disciple of Christ's; he hearing what Christ said to Philip, and what answer he returned, saith unto him; to Christ, with…”

“Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?”

“There is a lad here,.... Who either belonged to Christ and his disciples, and was employed to carry their provisions for them; which, if so, shows how meanly Christ and his disciples lived; or he belonged to some in the multitude; or rather he came…”

Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.

“And Jesus took the loaves,.... Into his hands, as also the fishes, in order to feed the multitude with them: and when he had given thanks; for them, and blessed them, or implored a blessing on them, that they might be nourishing to the bodies…”