John 1:43

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

John 1:43 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,Follow me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."
New Living Translation (NLT)
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”
The Message Bible (MSG)
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, "Come, follow me."
American Standard Version (ASV)
43 On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
43 The next day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee. He found Philip and told him, "Follow me!"
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
43 The next day He decided to leave for Galilee. Jesus found Philip and told him, "Follow Me!"
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."

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 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).
42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter ).
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Cross References 2

  • 1. Matthew 10:3; John 6:5-7; John 12:21,22; John 14:8,9
  • 2. S Matthew 4:19
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