John 4:45

Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(45) All the things that he did.—See the reference in John 2:23 to the unrecorded work at Jerusalem.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:43-54 The father was a nobleman, yet the son was sick. Honours and titles are no security from sickness and death. The greatest men must go themselves to God, must become beggars. The nobleman did not stop from his request till he prevailed. But at first he discovered the weakness of his faith in the power of Christ. It is hard to persuade ourselves that distance of time and place, are no hinderance to the knowledge, mercy, and power of our Lord Jesus. Christ gave an answer of peace. Christ's saying that the soul lives, makes it alive. The father went his way, which showed the sincerity of his faith. Being satisfied, he did not hurry home that night, but returned as one easy in his own mind. His servants met him with the news of the child's recovery. Good news will meet those that hope in God's word. Diligent comparing the works of Jesus with his word, will confirm our faith. And the bringing the cure to the family brought salvation to it. Thus an experience of the power of one word of Christ, may settle the authority of Christ in the soul. The whole family believed likewise. The miracle made Jesus dear to them. The knowledge of Christ still spreads through families, and men find health and salvation to their souls.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Received him - Received him kindly, or as a messenger of God. They had seen his miracles, and believed on him.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

45. received—welcomed Him.

having seen … at the feast—proud, perhaps, of their Countryman's wonderful works at Jerusalem, and possibly won by this circumstance to regard His claims as at least worthy of respectful investigation. Even this our Lord did not despise, for saving conversion often begins in less than this (so Zaccheus, Lu 19:3-10).

for they also went—that is, it was their practice to go up to the feast.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

When he came not to Nazareth, but to some parts of Galilee, the Galilaeans entertained him hospitably; and this they did because of those miracles they had seen wrought by him at the passover feast, where Christ was, John 2:1-25. For these Galilaeans, though they lived at a great distance from Jerusalem, yet were observant of the law which commanded all the males of the Jews to be present at that solemnity. The Samaritans saw no miracle, but believed Christ upon his word. The Galilaeans also received Christ, but their seeing of his miracles at the feast is given as the cause of their receiving him; their faith was not so noble as that of the Samaritans. Blessed (saith our Saviour) are they who have not seen, and yet have believed.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then when he was come into Galilee,.... That part of it in which Cana lay, as appears by what follows:

the Galilaeans received him; willingly, readily, and cheerfully, with much delight and pleasure, and with marks of great esteem and respect: they received him into their houses, and entertained him, and provided for him and his disciples:

having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem, at the feast of the passover; the miracles he wrought there, see John 2:23;

for they also went unto the feast; as well as Jesus and his disciples: they kept the feast of the passover, and went yearly to Jerusalem on that account: so Josephus speaks of the Galilaeans going to the Jewish festivals at Jerusalem, when he says (c);

"it was the custom, or usual with the Galilaeans, when they went to the holy city at the festivals, to go through the country of the Samaritans;''

which was the way that Christ now came from thence to them.

(c) Antiqu. Jud. l. 20. c. 5.

Geneva Study Bible

Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

John 4:45-46. Ἐδέξαντο αὐτόν] The reception which He found among them was one of faith, for He now brought with Him from Jerusalem the honour which the prophet had not in his own country; therefore πάντα ἑωρακότες, κ.τ.λ., because they had seen, etc., and in this we have the key to the right understanding of John 4:44.

John 4:46. οὖν] in consequence of this reception, which encouraged Him to go farther into the country. He goes again straight to Cana, because here He had relatives, and might hope in consequence of His first miracle to find the soil prepared for further labour on His part.

κ. ἦν τις βασιλικὸς, κ.τ.λ.] ἐν Καφαρναούμ should be joined to ἦν. Βασιλικός, a royal person, is, according to the frequent use of the word in Josephus (see Krebs, p. 144) and other writers (Plutarch, Polyb., etc.; see Wetstein), not a relation of the king (so Baronius, Bos, and many, also allowed by Chrysostom), but one in the service of the king (Herod Antipas); whether a military man (thus very often in Josephus; Nonnus: ἰθύνων στρατιήν), or civilian, or court retainer, is uncertain.

ὁ υἱίς] according to John 4:49, still young. The article indicates, perhaps, that he was the only one.

Expositor's Greek Testament

John 4:45. Neither is οὖν of John 4:45 inconsistent with this interpretation. It merely continues the narration: “when, then, He came into Galilee”. The immediate result of His coming was not what He anticipated, and therefore ἐδέξαντο is thrust into the emphatic place, “a welcome was accorded to Him by the Galileans”. And this unexpected result is accounted for by the fact stated, πάντα ἑωρακότες … εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν; they had been at the Passover at Jerusalem, and had seen all He had done there. “They received Him … on account of His fame in Jerusalem, the metropolis, which set them the fashion in their estimate of men and things” (Alford). According to John’s usual method of distinguishing various kinds of faith, this note is inserted to warn the reader that the reception was after all not deeply grounded, and to prepare for the statement of John 4:48. [ἦλθον, and even ἐποίησεν, may be rendered by pluperfects.]

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

45. all the things that he did] Of these we have a passing notice John 2:23. ‘The Feast’ means the Passover, but there is no need to name it, because it has already been named, John 2:23.

John 4:45

Vincent's Word Studies

Received (ἐδέξαντο)

See on John 3:32.