John 2:12

"Now follows a section of which we can only say with M. Renan, that it constitutes a decisive triumph for our Gospel.… If it is at all an artificial composition, with a dogmatic object, why should the author carry his readers thus to Capernaum for nothing?" S. p. 52. If S. John wrote it, all is simple and natural. He records this visit to Capernaum because it actually took place, and because he well remembers those -not many days."

went down Capernaum (the modern Tell-Hûm) being on the shore of the lake. It was situated in one of the most busy and populous districts of Palestine, and was therefore a good centre.

his mother, and his brethren Natural ties still hold Him; in the next verse they disappear. On the vexed question of the -brethren of the Lord" see the Introductionto the Epistle of S. James. It is impossible to determine with certainty whether they are (1) the children of Joseph and Mary, born after the birth of Jesus; (2) the children of Joseph by a former marriage, whether levirate or not; or (3) adopted children. There is nothing in Scripture to warn us against (1), the most natural view antecedently; but it has against it the general consensus of the Fathers, and the prevailing tradition of the perpetual virginity of S. Mary. Jerome's theory, that they were our Lord's cousins, sons of Alphaeus, is the one most commonly adopted, but John 7:5 (see note there) is fatal to it, and it labours under other difficulties as well. (2) is on the whole the most probable.

continued there Better, abode there. See on John 1:33.

not many days Because the Passover was at hand, and He must be about His Father's business.