Joh 1:41-45 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 41. 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 was the Messiah. The word Messiah, or Messias, is Hebrew, and means the same as the Greek word Christ, anointed . . From the conduct of Andrew we may learn that it is the nature of religion to desire that others may possess it. It does not lead us to monopolize it or to hide it under a bushel, but it seeks that others also may be brought to the Saviour. It does not wait for them to come, but it goes for them; it seeks them out, and tells them that a Saviour is found. Young converts should seek their friends and neighbours, and tell them of a Saviour; and not only their relatives, but all others as far as possible, that all may come to Jesus and be saved. (6) "the Christ" or, " the anointed .

John 1:41-45

Verse 41. 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 was the Messiah. The word Messiah, or Messias, is Hebrew, and means the same as the Greek word Christ, anointed. Mt 1:1. From the conduct of Andrew we may learn that it is the nature of religion to desire that others may possess it. It does not lead us to monopolize it or to hide it under a bushel, but it seeks that others also may be brought to the Saviour. It does not wait for them to come, but it goes for them; it seeks them out, and tells them that a Saviour is found. Young converts should seek their friends and neighbours, and tell them of a Saviour; and not only their relatives, but all others as far as possible, that all may come to Jesus and be saved.

(6) "the Christ" or, "the anointed. Verse 42. Cephas. This is a Syriac word, meaning the same as the Greek word Peter, a stone. Mt 16:17. The stone, or rock, is a symbol of firmness and steadiness of character--a trait in Peter's character after the ascension of Jesus that was very remarkable. Before the death of Jesus he was rash, headlong, variable; and it is one proof of the omniscience of Jesus that he saw that Peter would possess a character that would be expressed appropriately by the word stone or rock. The word Jonas is a Hebrew word, whose original signification is a dove. It may be that Jesus had respect to that when he gave Simon the name Peter. "You now bear a name emblematic of timidity and inconstancy. You shall be called by a name denoting firmness and constancy."

(k) "thou shalt be called Cephas" Mt 16:18 (7) "A Stone" or, "Peter" Verse 43. Would go forth.

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.

Findeth Philip. This does not refer to his calling these disciples to be apostles, for that took place at the Sea of Tiberias (Mt 4:18), but it refers to their being convinced that he was the Christ. This is the object of this evangelist, to show how and when they were convinced of this. Matthew states the time and occasion in which they were called to be apostles; John, the time in which they first became acquainted with Jesus, and were convinced that he was the Messiah. There is, therefore, no contradiction in the evangelists. Verse 44. Of Bethsaida. Mt 11:21.

The city of. The place where Andrew and Peter dwelt. Verse 45. Moses, in the law. Moses, in that part of the Old Testament which he wrote, called by the Jews the law. See De 18:15,18 Gen 49:10, 3:15. And the prophets, Isa 53:1-12, 9:6,7, Dan 9:24-27; Jer 13:5,6; &c.

Jesus of Nazareth, &c. They spoke according to common apprehension. They spoke of him as the son of Joseph because he was commonly supposed to be. They spoke of him as dwelling at Nazareth, though they might not have been ignorant that he was born at Bethlehem.

(l) "Moses in the law" Lk 24:27,44