Quotes & Notes on:     John 4:46   

• John Wesley's Notes:
   (No comment on this verse).
   

• Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

  * Cana.
  "It is worthy of remark," says Dr. E. D. Clarke, who visited Cana a few years ago, "that, walking among the ruins of a church, we saw large massy pots, answering the description given of the ancient vessels of the country; not preserved, but lying about, disregarded by the present inhabitants, as antiquities with whose original use they were unacquainted.  From their appearance, and the number of them, it was quite evident that a practice of keeping water in large pots, each holding from eighteen to twenty-seven gallons, was once common in the country." (Compare the account of the water pots. ch. 2:6.)
  
  Joh 2:1-11; 21:2; Jos 19:28
  * nobleman. or, courtier, or, ruler. whose. Ps 50:15; 78:34; Ho 5:15; Mt 9:18; 15:22; 17:14,15; Lu 7:2; 8:42
   

• Adam Clarke's Commentary:

     Cana was on the road from Nazareth to Capernaum and the Sea of Tiberias.
  
  A certain nobleman] An officer of the king's court: for this is the meaning of the original word, basilikov, which the Vulgate translates regulus, a little king. This officer belonged to Herod Antipas, who was then tetrarch of Galilee. Jerome calls him Palatinus, and says he was an officer of the king's palace. Others think it was Chuza, mentioned Lu 8:3; and others think it was Manaen, spoken of Ac 13:1. One of these opinions may be true, but all solid proof is wanting. This officer, whoever he was, appears to have had his ordinary abode at Capernaum, and hearing that Christ was at Cana, he came express from Capernaum thither, to entreat him to heal his child.
   

• Family Bible Notes:

   (No comment on this verse).
   

• 1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
  Although Christ is absent in body, yet he works mightily in the believers by his word. (l) Some of Herod's royal attendants, for though Herod was not a king, but a Tetrarch, yet he was a king in all respects (or at least the people called him a king) except that he lacked the title of king.
   

• People's New Testament Commentary:

    The Greek word translated "nobleman" is Basileukos, from Basileus, a king, and implies one connected in some way with royalty. It may have been Chuza (Lu 8:3), Herod's steward.
   

• Robertson's Word Pictures:
     Again (palin). A second time. Unto Cana (eis tên Kana). Note article, "the Cana of Galilee" already mentioned in Joh 2:1. Where he made the water wine (hopou epoiêsen to hudôr oinon). That outstanding first miracle would still be remembered in Cana and would indicate that Jesus had some friends there. Nobleman (basilikos). One connected with the king (basileus), whether by blood or by office. Probably here it is one of the courtiers of Herod the tetrarch of Galilee, Chuzas (Lu 8:3), Manaen (Ac 13:1), or some one else. Some of the manuscripts used basiliskos, a petty king, a diminutive of basileus. Was sick (êsthenei). Imperfect active of astheneô (a privative and sthenos, without strength, Mt 25:36), continued sick. At Capernaum (en Kapharnaoum). Some miles from Cana near where the Jordan enters the Sea of Galilee.
   

• Albert Barnes' Commentary:

       A certain nobleman. One who was of the royal family, connected by birth with Herod Antipas; or one of the officers of the court, whether by birth allied to him or not. It seems that his ordinary residence was at Capernaum. Capernaum was about a day's journey from Cana, where Jesus then was.
  
  {f} "he made the water wine" Joh 2:1,11
  {1} "nobleman" or, "courtier" or, "ruler"
   

• Jamieson-Faussett Brown:

  nobleman--courtier, king's servant, or one connected with a royal household; such as Chuza (Lu 8:3), or Manaen (Ac 13:1).
  
  heard that Jesus was come out of Judea--"where he had doubtless seen or heard what things Jesus had done at Jerusalem" (Joh 4:45), [BENGEL].
  
  come down--for Capernaum was down on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.
   

• Spurgeon Devotional Commentary:

  When driven from one city Jesus displayed his healing power in another. Ingratitude could not make him cease to bless mankind.
  
  Ver. 46,47 It is a rare sight to see the great ones of the earth coming to Jesus; but they must come as well as the poorest, if they would be blest.

   

• Spurgeon Commentary on Matthew:
  (No comment on this verse).
  
   

• William Burkitt's Notes:

  (No comment on this verse).
   

• Matthew Henry's  Commentary:

    (No comment on this verse).

   

• Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:

   (No comment on this verse).
   

• The Fourfold Gospel:

       He came therefore again. That is, in consequence of the welcome which awaited him.
  
  Unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. See TFG Joh 2:1.
  
  And there was a certain nobleman. Literally, "king's man," a word which Josephus uses to designate a soldier, courtier, or officer of the king. He was doubtless an officer of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. That it was Chuzas (Lu 8:3) or Manaen (Ac 13:1) is mere conjecture.
  
  Whose son was sick at Capernaum. The nouns in this verse are suggestive. We have a "nobleman," yet neither riches nor office lifted him above affliction; a "son," yet approaching an untimely death before his father; and both these parties came to sorrow in "Capernaum," the city of consolation. Neither circumstance, nor age, nor situation can guarantee joy. We must still be seeking Jesus.
  
   

• I think that he was some nobleman of the court of Herod; for there is some plausibility in the opinion of those who think that he was sent by Caesar.  This is expressly mentioned by the Evangelist, because the rank of this personage made the miracle the more illustrious.


- John Calvin, Commentary