John 6:67

τοῖς δώδεκα. The first mention of them; S. John speaks of them familiarly as a well-known body, assuming that his readers are well acquainted with the expression (see on John 6:62). This is a mark of truth: all the more so because the expression does not occur in the earlier Chapter s; for it is probable that down to the end of chap. 4. at any rate ‘the Twelve’ did not yet exist. Pilate, Martha and Mary, and Mary Magdalene are introduced in the same abrupt way as persons well-known (John 18:29; John 19:25). Οὖν, in consequence of the frequent desertions.

μὴ κ. ὑμ. θέλετε. Surely ye also do not wish to go: we must avoid rendering θέλειν by the ‘will’ of the simple future: comp. John 7:17; John 8:44. Christ knows not only the unbelief of the many, but the belief and loyalty of the few.