46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.
46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
46 Nathanael said, "Nazareth? You've got to be kidding." But Philip said, "Come, see for yourself."
46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
46 "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" "Come and see for yourself," Philip replied.
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee."
52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."
52 But they cut him off. "Are you also campaigning for the Galilean?
52 They answered and said to him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee."
52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself-no prophet ever comes from Galilee!"
(Read John 7:40-53)
The malice of Christ's enemies is always against reason, and sometimes the staying of it cannot be accounted for. Never any man spake with that wisdom, and power, and grace, that convincing clearness, and that sweetness, wherewith Christ spake. Alas, that many, who are for a time restrained, and who speak highly of the word of Jesus, speedily lose their convictions, and go on in their sins! People are foolishly swayed by outward motives in matters of eternal moment, are willing even to be damned for fashion's sake. As the wisdom of God often chooses things which men despise, so the folly of men commonly despises those whom God has chosen. The Lord brings forward his weak and timid disciples, and sometimes uses them to defeat the designs of his enemies.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 1:46
Commentary on John 1:43-51
(Read John 1:43-51)
See the nature of true Christianity, it is following Jesus; devoting ourselves to him, and treading in his steps. Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit by the word of God, must beware of prejudices against places, or denominations of men. They should examine for themselves, and they will sometimes find good where they looked for none. Many people are kept from the ways of religion by the unreasonable prejudices they conceive. The best way to remove false notions of religion, is to make trial of it. In Nathanael there was no guile. His profession was not hypocritical. He was not a dissembler, nor dishonest; he was a sound character, a really upright, godly man. Christ knows what men are indeed. Does He know us? Let us desire to know him. Let us seek and pray to be Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile; truly Christians, approved of Christ himself. Some things weak, imperfect, and sinful, are found in all, but hypocrisy belongs not to a believer's character. Jesus witnessed what passed when Nathanael was under the fig-tree. Probably he was then in fervent prayer, seeking direction as to the Hope and Consolation of Israel, where no human eye observed him. This showed him that our Lord knew the secrets of his heart. Through Christ we commune with, and benefit by the holy angels; and things in heaven and things on earth are reconciled and united together.