John 6:1

The Fourth Sign: Feeding 5,000

1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias).

John 6:1 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:1

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 passover, and now it was near another; and what is related here, was after the death of John the Baptist, and when the disciples had returned from preaching in the several cities and towns, where Christ afterwards went, and had given an account of their success; see ( Matthew 14:12 Matthew 14:13 ) ( Mark 6:30 Mark 6:31 ) ( Luke 9:10 ) . Quickly after the passover was ended, Christ departed from Jerusalem, and went into Galilee, and preached in the several cities and towns in those parts, and wrought many miracles: and after these things, in process of time,

Jesus went over the sea of Galilee;
the same with the lake of Gennesaret, ( Luke 5:1 ) ;

which is [the sea] of Tiberias;
and is frequently so called by the Jewish writers F24, who often make mention of (lv hmy hyrbj) , "the sea of Tiberias"; and by other writers, it is called the lake of Tiberias F25; Pliny, who calls it the lake of Genesara F26, says,

``it was sixteen miles long, and six broad, and was beset with very pleasant towns; on the east were Julias and Hippo, and on the south Tarichea, by which name some call the lake, and on the west Tiberias, wholesome for the hot waters.''

And these are the waters which the Jews call (ayrbjd Nyowmyd) , or, (ymx) , the hot baths of Tiberias F1; and from the city of Tiberias built by Herod, and called so in honour of Tiberius Caesar, the sea took its name.
FOOTNOTES:

F24 T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 81. 2. & Bava Bathra, fol. 74. 2. Becorot, fol. 55. 1. Megilla, fol. 5. 2. & 6. 1. Moed. Katon, fol. 18. 2. & T. Hieros. Kilaim, fol. 32. 3. & Erubin, fol. 25. 2.
F25 Solin, c. 48. Pausan. l. 5. p. 298.
F26 Lib. 5. c. 15.
F1 T. Hieros. Peah, fol 21. 2. & Sheviith, fol. 38. 4. Kiddushin, fol. 61. 1. R. Benj. Itinerar. p. 53.

John 6:1 In-Context

1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias).
2 And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was performing on the sick.
3 So Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near.
5 Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, "Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?"
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