John 1:45

Philip findeth Nathanael.

As we learn from John 21:2, Nathanael, like Peter and Andrew, James and John, and Philip, was. Galilean, his home being at "Cana of Galilee." His name only occurs in these two places. He is supposed to have been one of the Twelve, the same one mentioned in the other Gospels as Bartholomew, which is. patronymic, meaning son of Tolmai. The use of the name in John 21:2 favors this hypothesis.

We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write.

There was only one to whom this could refer, "The prophet like unto Moses," the Messiah; and when Philip names Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael is at once skeptical whether the Messiah could come out of Nazareth. Note, 1. That although Cana was not far from Nazareth, so quiet had been the life of Jesus, thus far, Nathanael does not seem to have heard of him; 2. As soon as Philip becomes. disciple he at once begins to seek others, an excellent example for all young Christians. For references in the books of Moses to the Messiah, see Genesis 3:15; Genesis 17:7. and Deuteronomy 18:15-19.