John 1:42

beheld Same word as in John 1:36, implying a fixed earnest look; what follows shews that Christ's gaze penetrated to his heart and read his character.

Simon the son of Jona The true reading here and John 21:15-17 is Simon the son of John. There is a tradition mat his mother's name was Johanna. The Greek form Iônâmay represent two distinct Hebrew names, Jonah and Johanan = John. There is no need to make Christ's knowledge of his name and parentage miraculous; Andrew in bringing Simon would naturally mention them.

A stone The margin and text should change places, Peter, being in the text and -a stone" in the margin, like -the Anointed" in John 1:41. This new name is given with reference to the new relation into which the person named enters; comp. the cases of Abraham, Sarah, Israel. It points to the future office of Simon rather than to his present character. The form Cephas occurs nowhere else in the Gospels or Acts: but comp. 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1Co 3:22; 1 Corinthians 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:5; Galatians 1:18; Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:11; Galatians 2:14.

There is no discrepancy between this and Matthew 16:18. Here Christ gives the name Peter; there he reminds S. Peter of it. It is quite clear from this that S. Peter was not first called among the Apostles, a point on which the Synoptists leave us in doubt.