“et sequebatur eum multitudo magna, quia videbant signa quæ faciebat super his qui infirmabantur.”
“And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.”
“A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick.”
“A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.”
“And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick.”
2. The company that he was attended with: A great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles, v. 2. Note, (1.) Our Lord Jesus, while he went about doing good, lived continually in a crowd, which gave him more trouble than honour. Good and useful men must not complain of a hurry of business, when they are serving God and their generation; it will be time enough to enjoy ourselves when we come to that world where we shall enjoy God. (2.) Christ's miracles drew many after him that were not effectually drawn to him. They had their curiosity gratified by the strangeness of them, who had not their consciences convinced by the power of them.
We have here an account of Christ's feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, which miracle is in this respect remarkable, that it is the only passage of the actions of Christ's life that is recorded by all the four evangelists. John, who does not usually relate what had been recorded by those who wrote before him, yet relates this, because of the reference the following discourse has to it. Observe,
Some good time (some think near a year) after the passages in the former chapter Christ went over the lake of Galilee (for the Jews called all great collections of waters seas); it is also called the lake of Tiberias, and the lake of Gennesaret, Luk 5:1. These waters received their name from the whole province whose coast they washed, so they were called or the particular shore or cities they washed, so they are sometimes called sometimes the lake of Gennesaret. It appeareth by Mar 6:31, that he went upon the apostles coming to give him an account of what they had done and taught.
Verses 1-14 John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.