John 1:41

He first findeth, &c. The meaning of -first" becomes almost certain when we remember S. John's characteristic reserve about himself. Both disciples hurry to tell their own brothers the good tidings, that the Messiah has been found: S. Andrew finds hisbrother first, and afterwards S. John finds his; but we are left to infer the latter point.

S. Andrew thrice brings others to Christ; Peter, the lad with the loaves (John 6:8), and certain Greeks (John 12:22); and excepting Mark 13:3 we know scarcely anything else about him. Thus it would seem as if in these three incidents S. John had given us the key to his character. And here we have another characteristic of this Gospel the lifelike way in which the less prominent figures are sketched. Besides Andrew we have Philip, John 1:44; John 6:5; John 12:21; John 14:8; Thomas, John 11:16; John 14:5; John 20:24-29; Nathanael, John 1:45-51; Nicodemus, John 3:1-12; John 7:50-52; John 19:39; Martha and Mary, 11, John 12:1-3.

We have found This does not prove that S. John is still with him, only that they were together when their common desire and expectation were fulfilled.

Messias The Hebrew form of this name is used by S. John only, here and John 4:25. Elsewhere the LXX. translation, -the Christ," is used. Here -the" before -Christ" should be omitted.