John 6:14

Omit ὁ Ἰησοῦς after σημεῖον with אBD against A: comp. John 3:2; John 4:46; John 8:21.

14. οἱ οὖν ἄνθρ. The people therefore, the whole multitude. The plural, ἃ ἐπ. σημεῖα, which some authorities read, includes the effect of previous miracles. The imperf., ἔλεγον, indicates that this was repeatedly said. Ὁ Ἰησοῦς has been inserted here, as elsewhere, in some MSS., because this was once the beginning of a lesson read in church. The same thing has been done in our own Prayer Book in the Gospels for Quinquagesima and the 3rd Sunday in Lent: in the Gospel for S. John’s day the names of both Jesus and Peter have been inserted; and in those for the 5th S. in Lent and 2nd S. after Easter the words ‘Jesus said’ have been inserted. In all cases a desire for clearness has caused the insertion. Comp. John 8:21.

ὁ πρ. ὁ ἐρχ. The Prophet that cometh; the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15 (see on John 1:21 and John 11:27). The miracle perhaps reminded them of the manna, and Moses, and his promise of a greater than himself. S. John alone tells us of the effect of the miracle on the spectators (comp. John 2:11; John 2:23). It exactly corresponds with what we know of the prevailing Messianic expectations, and explains the strange fluctuations of opinion about Jesus. His ‘signs’ pointed to His being the Messiah, or at least a great Prophet: but He steadfastly refused to act the part expected from the Messiah.