John 1:44

44 Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and of Peter [the city of Andrew and Peter].

John 1:44 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:44

Now Philip was of Bethsaida
A town on the lake of Gennesaret, afterwards made a city by Philip the tetrarch, and called Julias, after the name of Caesar's daughter ^F13: it was a fishing town, and had its name from thence; and the disciples that were of it, were of this business:

the city of Andrew and Peter;
or "Simon", as read the Syriac and Persic versions: three apostles were called out of this place, as mean, and wicked, as it was; see ( Matthew 11:21 ) ; which was no small honour to it: it is a saying of the Jews ^F14, that

``a man's place (his native place) does not honour him, but a man honours his place.''

This was the case here.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 Joseph. Antiqu. l. 18. c. 3.
F14 T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 21. 2.

John 1:44 In-Context

42 and he led him to Jesus. And Jesus beheld him, and said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas, that is to say [that is interpreted], Peter.

43 And on the morrow he would go out into Galilee, and he found Philip; and he saith to him [and Jesus saith to him], Follow thou me.

44 Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and of Peter [the city of Andrew and Peter].

45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him [and he saith to him], We have found Jesus, the son of Joseph, of Nazareth, whom Moses wrote in the law and the prophets.

46 And Nathanael said to him, Of Nazareth may some good thing be? Philip said to him [Philip saith to him], Come, and see.