Nathanael

(gift of God ), a disciple of Jesus Christ, concerning whom, under that name at least, we learn from Scripture little more than his birthplace, Cana of Galilee, ( John 21:2 ) and his simple, truthful character. ( John 1:47 ) The name does not occur in the first three Gospels; but it is commonly believed that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. The evidence for that belief is as follows: St, John who twice mentions Nathanael, never introduces the name of Bartholomew at all. St. Matthew, ( Matthew 10:3 ) St. Mark, ( Mark 3:18 ) and St. Luke, ( Luke 8:14 ) all speak of Bartholomew but never of Nathanael. If was Philip who first brought Nathanael to Jesus, just as Andrew had brought his brother Simon.