61 After these things Jesus went away beyond the sea of Galilee (of Tiberias), 2 and there was following him a great multitude, because they were seeing his signs that he was doing on the ailing; 3 and Jesus went up to the mount, and he was there sitting with his disciples, 4 and the passover was nigh, the feast of the Jews. 5 Jesus then having lifted up 'his' eyes and having seen that a great multitude doth come to him, saith unto Philip, 'Whence shall we buy loaves, that these may eat?'— 6 and this he said, trying him, for he himself had known what he was about to do. 7 Philip answered him, 'Two hundred denaries' worth of loaves are not sufficient to them, that each of them may receive some little;' 8 one of his disciples—Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter—saith to him, 9 'There is one little lad here who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes, but these—what are they to so many?' 10 And Jesus said, 'Make the men to sit down;' and there was much grass in the place, the men then sat down, in number, as it were, five thousand, 11 and Jesus took the loaves, and having given thanks he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those reclining, in like manner, also of the little fishes as much as they wished. 12 And when they were filled, he saith to his disciples, 'Gather together the broken pieces that are over, that nothing may be lost;' 13 they gathered together, therefore, and filled twelve hand-baskets with broken pieces, from the five barley loaves that were over to those having eaten. 14 The men, then, having seen the sign that Jesus did, said—'This is truly the Prophet, who is coming to the world;'
15 Jesus, therefore, having known that they are about to come, and to take him by force that they may make him king, retired again to the mountain himself alone.
16 And when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 and having entered into the boat, they were going over the sea to Capernaum, and darkness had already come, and Jesus had not come unto them, 18 the sea also—a great wind blowing—was being raised, 19 having pushed onwards, therefore, about twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and coming nigh to the boat, and they were afraid; 20 and he saith to them, 'I am 'he', be not afraid;' 21 they were willing then to receive him into the boat, and immediately the boat came unto the land to which they were going.
22 On the morrow, the multitude that was standing on the other side of the sea, having seen that there was no other little boat there except one—that into which his disciples entered—and that Jesus went not in with his disciples into the little boat, but his disciples went away alone, 23 (and other little boats came from Tiberias, nigh the place where they did eat the bread, the Lord having given thanks), 24 when therefore the multitude saw that Jesus is not there, nor his disciples, they also themselves did enter into the boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 6:1-24
Commentary on John 6:1-14
(Read John 6:1-14)
John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.
Commentary on John 6:15-21
(Read John 6:15-21)
Here were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is more powerful to convince sinners than that word, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest;" nothing more powerful to comfort saints than this, "I am Jesus whom thou lovest." If we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind high, yet we may comfort ourselves, we shall be at the shore before long.
Commentary on John 6:22-27
(Read John 6:22-27)
Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be the Son of God with power.