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Joh_11:18. This observation explains the fact mentioned in the following verse, that so many of the Ἰουδαῖοι (from the neighbouring capital) were present.
ἦν ] The use of the praet. does not of itself necessarily imply that Bethany had ceased to exist at the time when the writer wrote, but might be explained (as it usually is) from the general connection with the past events narrated (see on Act_17:21; Krüger on Xen. Anab. i. 4. 9; Breitenbach, ad Xen. Hier. 9. 4). At the same time, as John is the only one of the evangelists who uses the praet. thus (see besides Joh_18:1, Joh_19:41), and as he further wrote a considerable time after the destruction of Jerusalem, it is more natural to suppose that Jerusalem and the surrounding neighbourhood was presented before his mind as lying waste, and Bethany also as no longer existing.
ἀπὸ σταδίων δεκαπ .] fifteen stadia off, i.e. about three-eighths of a geographical mile. On this mode of describing the distance (Rev_14:20) see Buttm. Neut. Gr. p. 133 [E. T. p. 153]. Compare also Joh_12:1, and on Act_10:30. A stadium = 589⅓ feet Rhenish (606¾ feet English) measure.