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Joh_4:47-48. Ἀπῆλθε πρὸς αὐτόν ] from Capernaum to Cana.
ἵνα ] the subject of the request is its purpose.
ἤμελλε ] in eo erat, ut. Comp. Luk_7:2; Hemsterhuis, ad Lucian. D. M. II. p. 546.
The man’s prayer is conceivable partly from the first miracle at Cana, and partly from the fame of Jesus which had followed Him from Jerusalem.—“If ye are not witnesses of signs and wonders, ye will certainly not believe,” is spoken in displeasure against the Galileans generally (Joh_4:45), but including the suppliant; Jesus foreseeing that the healing of his son would make him believe, but at the same time that his faith would not be brought about without a miracle. The Lord’s teaching was in His own view the weightiest ground of faith, especially according to John (comp. Joh_4:41), though faith based on the miracles was not rejected, but under certain circumstances was even required by Him (Joh_10:38, Joh_14:11, Joh_15:24), though not as the highest, but as of secondary rank, according to the purpose of the miracles, which were intended as a divine confirmation of the teaching. It is incorrect to put the emphasis upon ἴδητε , unless ye see with your own eyes, etc., condemning the prayer following. According to this, not only would ἴδητε have to be put first (against Bengel and Storr), but τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς or the like must be supplied; yet the man saw the miracle, and a greater one than if Jesus had gone with him.
σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ] see on Mat_24:24; Rom_15:19. As to the reproach itself, comp. 1Co_1:22.