John 1:43

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 On the next day he wanted to depart for Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus 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 This one first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which is translated "Christ").
42 He brought him to Jesus. Looking at him, Jesus said, "You are Simon the son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which is interpreted "Peter").
43 On the next day he wanted to depart for Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me!"
44 (Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.)
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found [the one] whom Moses wrote [about] in the law, and the prophets wrote [about]--Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth!"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.