John 1:43

Ἰωάννου or Ἰωάνου (אBL, Lat. vet., Memph.) for Ἰωνᾶ (AB2), which is a correction from Matthew 16:17.

43. ἐμβλέψας. Comp. John 1:36 and Luke 22:61 : what follows shews that Christ’s look penetrated to his heart and read his character.

Ἰωάννου. This, and not Ἰωνᾶ, seems to be the true reading here and John 21:15-17 : but Ἰωνᾶ might represent two Hebrew names, Jonah and Johanan = John. Tradition gives his mother’s name as Johanna. Andrew probably had mentioned his name and parentage.

Κηφᾶς. This Aramaic form occurs elsewhere in N.T. only 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:5; Galatians 1:18; Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:11; Galatians 2:14. The second Adam, like (Genesis 2:19) the first, gives names to those brought to Him. The new name, as in the case of Abraham, Sarah, and Israel, indicates his new position rather than his character; for he was ‘unstable as water’ (John 18:25; Galatians 2:11-12): Simon is designated for a new office. Matthew 16:18 presupposes the incident recorded here: here Simon shall be called, there he is, Peter.

Πέτρος. Translate, Peter, with ‘a stone,’ or ‘a mass of rock,’ in the margin.—It is quite clear from this narrative that S. Peter was not called first among the Apostles.