John 1:43

43 The next day, having decided to leave Bethany and go into Galilee, Jesus found Philip, and invited him to follow Him.

John 1:43 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:43

The day following
Not the day after John had pointed out Christ, as the Lamb of God, to two of his disciples; but the day after Simon had been with him, being brought by Andrew:

Jesus would go forth into Galilee;
from whence he came to Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him; and which being done, and his temptations in the wilderness over, it was his will, resolution, and determination, to return to Galilee, the place of his education and conversation, till this time; and therefore chose to begin his ministry, and miracles, there, both to give honour to it, and to fulfil a prophecy in ( Isaiah 9:1 Isaiah 9:2 ) ; and besides this, he had doubtless another end in going thither: which was to call some other disciples that dwelt there:

and findeth Philip;
as he was going to Galilee, or rather when in it; not by hap or chance; but knowing where he was, as the shepherd and bishop of souls, looked him up and found him out, and called him by his grace, and to be a disciple of his; (See Gill on Matthew 10:3);

and saith unto him, follow me;
leave thy friends, thy calling, and business, and become a disciple of mine: and such power went along with these words, that he at once left all, and followed Christ; as the other disciples, Peter, and Andrew, James, and John, and Matthew did, as is recorded of them, though not of this; but the following history makes it appear he did.

John 1:43 In-Context

41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" --that is to say, the Anointed One.
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, son of John: you shall be called Cephas" --that is to say, Peter (or `Rock').
43 The next day, having decided to leave Bethany and go into Galilee, Jesus found Philip, and invited him to follow Him.
44 (Now Philip came from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.)
45 Then Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the Law wrote, as well as the Prophets--Jesus, the son of Joseph, a man of Nazareth."
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