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



Ver. 44. Now Philip was of Bethsaida] So was Andrew and Peter, who would not be wanting to preach to this town, and pray for it. But all in vain; whence that, "Woe unto thee, Bethsaida," Mat_11:21. Christ would not suffer so much as the blind man he had cured to go thither, Mar_9:27.



Thou art the Son of God] For else thou couldst never have known me so thoroughly at so great a distance. The Samaritess, Joh_4:29-30; Joh_4:39-42, believed on the same ground ("Come see a man that told me all that ever I did"), but not so soon; Diserimen est a Deo, non natura. God and not nature made the difference. That message that God had accepted a ransom, had a present effect upon that distressed man, Job_33:24, in reviving his spirit. Not so upon David, though it were delivered to him by the mouth of Nathan, 2Sa_12:13; cf. Psa_51:8. God is a free agent, and gives grace and peace at his own pleasure.