John 6:1–15

Verse 1. Galilee. Saint John does not usually relate what is mentioned by the other evangelists, especially what happened in Galilee. If he does it on this occasion, it is purposely to introduce the subject of the heavenly bread, which begins verse 37. He seems, moreover, to have had in view the description of the different passovers during Christ’s public ministry. As he, therefore, remained in Galilee during the third passover, he relates pretty fully what passed during that time. We may also remark, that as the other three evangelists give, in the same terms, the institution of the blessed sacrament, Saint John omits the institution, but gives in detail the repeated promises of Jesus Christ, relative to this great mystery.

Verse 4. From the circumstance of the passover, the number that followed Jesus was greatly increased. V.

Verse 5. Our Lord first said, (Matthew 14:16.) Give them to eat; but afterwards, accommodating himself to the weakness of his disciples, he says: Whence shall we buy bread? So there is no contradiction.

A denarius was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages for an agricultural laborer, so 200 denarii would be between 6 and 7 month’s pay.

Verse 10. The text in Saint Matthew adds: without counting the women and the children, who might possibly amount to an equal number.

Verse 11. In the Greek, there is this addition: He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were sitting. The Syriac, and some Greek copies agree with the Vulgate.

Verse 12. To make the miracle still more conspicuous to the multitude, Jesus Christ shewed, that not only their present wants were supplied, but that there remained as much, or more, after they had all been filled, than there had been at first presented to Him.

Verse 14. The Prophet indeed. That is, the Messias. Witham.

Verse 15. Saint John here corrects what relates to Jesus, and then what relates to the disciples. For if we attend to the order of time, the apostles got into the boat before Jesus went to the mountain. But, in matters of this nature, it is usual for the historians to follow their own choice. Pol. Synop. critic.