John 5:19

οὐ δ. ὁ υἱὸς π. ἀφ' ἑ. οὐδέν. It is morally impossible for Him to act with individual self-assertion independent of God, because He is the Son: Their Will and working are one. It was to this independent action that Satan had tempted Him (comp. ‘Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven’). The Jews accuse Him of blasphemy; and blasphemy implies opposition to God: but He and the Father are most intimately united. See on John 1:51.

ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ. The expression is peculiar to S. John: comp. John 5:30; John 7:17; John 7:28; John 8:28; John 8:42; John 11:51; John 14:10; John 15:4; John 16:13. There is only one πηγὴ τῆς Θεότητος: the Son must in some sense be dependent; the very idea implies it. Comp. ‘I have not done them of mine own mind’ (ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ), Numbers 16:28.

ἐὰν μή τι βλ. Unless He seeth the Father doing it.

ἃ γὰρ ἄν. The negative statement is explained by a positive one. The Son cannot act of Himself, for He is ever engaged in doing the Father’s work, whatsoever it may be.