John 6:24

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(24) When the people.—Better, the multitude, as before. It is not necessary to suppose that the whole 5,000 crossed over. The crowd came probably in part from the eastern side, and many would continue their journey to Jerusalem (comp. John 6:2). If indeed we press the words of John 6:22, “the multitude which (still) stood on the other side of the sea,” they would include the remnant only.

Therefore saw.—Resuming John 6:22. The sentence is long and involved, and this has been, as we may expect, followed by some variations in the text. “Saw,” in John 6:22, should be interpreted of the previous evening, and the same word here of the day of their own embarking. They knew there was only one boat, and that the disciples had gone away in it, but Jesus had not. They expected therefore to find Him among themselves, but did not. Meanwhile, other boats had come across from Tiberias. From these they may have learnt that He was not there.

They also took shipping.—Better, they themselves entered into the boats.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:22-27 Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be the Son of God with power.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Took shipping - Went into the boats.

Came to Capernaum - This was the ordinary place of the residence of Jesus, and they therefore expected to find him there.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. Howbeit, &c.—"Howbeit," adds the Evangelist, in a lively parenthesis, "there came other boats from Tiberias" (which lay near the southwest coast of the lake), whose passengers were part of the multitude that had followed Jesus to the east side, and been miraculously fed; these boats were fastened somewhere (says the Evangelist)

nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks—thus he refers to the glorious "miracle of the loaves"—and now they were put in requisition to convey the people back again to the west side. For when "the people saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping [in these boats] and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus."

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "John 6:23"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there,.... At the sea side, at the usual place of taking boat; and having reason to think he was not on that side of the lake, but was gone from thence:

neither his disciples; when they found that there were neither of them there, but both were gone, and considering that it was to no purpose for them to stay there:

they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus; they might observe, that the disciples steered their course towards this place; and they knew that was a place of general resort with Christ and his disciples; therefore they took boat and came directly thither, and sought for him in the synagogue, it being on a day in which the people used to go thither; and where Christ, as often as he had opportunity, attended.

Geneva Study Bible

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24. they also took shipping] More literally, they themselves entered into the boats, i.e. the boats that had come from Tiberias, driven in very possibly by the gale which had delayed the Apostles: ‘also’ is not genuine. Of course there is no reason to suppose that all who had been miraculously fed crossed over; but a sufficient number of them to be called a ‘multitude.’

Bengel's Gnomen

John 6:24. Αὐτοί, themselves) In antithesis to Jesus, whose route the people observed directly; that of the disciples indirectly.[125]—πλοῖα, ships) These same just before the apostle termed, πλοιάρια, small vessels [boats, John 6:23]. Both appellations are true.—Καπερναούμ, Capernaum) John 6:17 [whither the disciples had sailed].

[125] i.e. Their immediate object of search was Jesus.—E. and T.

John 6:24