John 5:2 (WEB)
Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda”, having five porches.
Fathers and councils · 27
Augustine of Hippo
“…are those in whom God worketh; so also we find a sort of literature among the Jews.…Moses wrote five books: but in the five porches encircling the pool, sick men were lying, but they could not be healed.” — editor's note: John v. 2.
Read the whole comment“The five porches discovered, but healed not, the sick; the pool healed when one descended, and this when it was disturbed: the disturbance of the pool was in our Lord’s Passion.…Since therefore this is a mystery there, he teacheth that the Law was given that sinners might be…” — editor's note: John v. 2–4.
Read the whole comment“Because, “as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself:” and, “He was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world:” and this light, “the Word,” was “with God;” but “the Word also was God;” and…” — editor's note: John v. 2
Read the whole comment“On the words of the Gospel, John v. 2, “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool,” etc.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Again in John v. 2, etc., on the five porches, where lay a great multitude of impotent folk, and of the pool of Siloa.” — the author cites it
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John Chrysostom
“Ver.” — the author cites it
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Tertullian
“An angel, by his intervention, was wont to stir the pool at Bethsaida.” — editor's note: So Tertullian reads, and some copies, but not the best, of the New Testament in the place referred to, John v. 1–9. [And note Tertullian’s textual testimony as…
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Jerome
“Bethesda, the pool in Judea, could not cure the limbs of those who suffered from bodily weakness without the advent of an angel, and do you venture to bring me a soul washed with simple water, as though it had just come from the bath?” — editor's note: John v. 2 sq.
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Catena Aurea on John
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
After the miracle in Galilee, He returns to Jerusalem: After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The feast of Pentecost. Jesus always went up to Jerusalem at the time of the feasts, that it might be seen that He was not an enemy to, but an observer of, the Law. And it gave Him the opportunity of impressing the…
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
The pool by the sheep-market, is the place where the priest washed the animals that were going to be sacrificed.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
This pool was one among many types of that baptism, which was to purge away sin. First God enjoined water for the cleansing from the filth of the body, and from those defilements, which were not real, but legal, e.…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
It was a greater act in Christ, to heal the diseases of the soul, than the sicknesses of the perishable body. But as the soul itself did not know its Restorer, as it had eyes in the flesh to discern visible things,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He did not, however, proceed immediately to heal him, but first tried by conversation to bring him into a believing state of mind. Not that He required faith in the first instance, as He did from the blind man,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Three distinct biddings. Rise, however, is not a command, but the conferring of the cure. Two commands were given upon his cure, take up thy bed, and walk.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Behold the richness of the Divine Wisdom. He not only heals, but bids him carry his bed also. This was to shew the cure was really miraculous, and not a mere effect of the imagination; for the man’s limbs must have…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
There is a wide difference between our Lord’s mode of healing, and a physician’s. He acts by His word, and acts immediately: the other’s requires a long time for its completion.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
This was wonderful, but what follows more so. As yet he had no opposition to face. It is made more wonderful when we see him obeying Christ afterwards in spite of the rage and railing of the Jews: And on the same day…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
They did not charge our Lord with healing on the sabbath, for He would have replied that if an ox or an ass of theirs had fallen into a pit, would not they have taken it out on the sabbath day: but they addressed the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Had he been inclined to deal treacherously, he might have said, If it is a crime, accuse Him Who commanded it, and I will lay down my bed. And he would have concealed his cure, knowing, as he did, that their real…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Judging on low and human notions of this miracle, it is not at all a striking display of power, and only a moderate one of goodness. Of so many, who lay sick, only one was healed; though, had He chosen, He could have…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
It is fitly described as a sheep pool. By sheep are meant people, according to the passage, We are Thy people, and the sheep of Thy pasture. (Ps. 95:7)
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The water then, i. e. the people, was enclosed within five porches, i. e. the five books of Moses. But those books only betrayed the impotent, and did not recover them; that is to say, the Law convicted the sinner,…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
Lastly, many kinds of impotent folk lay near the pool: the blind, i. e. those who are without the light of knowledge; the lame, i. e. those who have not strength to do what they are commanded; the withered, i. e.…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
So then Christ came to the Jewish people, and by means of mighty works, and profitable lessons, troubled the sinners, i. e. the water, and the stirring continued till He brought on His own passion. But He troubled…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
What mean the words, Arise, and walk; except that thou shouldest raise thyself from thy torpor and indolence, and study to advance in good works. Take up thy bed, i. e. thy neighbour by which thou art carried, and…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Carry him then with whom thou walkest, that thou mayest come to Him with Whom thou desirest to abide. As yet however he wist not who Jesus was; just as we too believe in Him though we see Him not. Jesus again does…
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Cross-references · 12
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 35.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 4.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 35.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 74.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 74.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 74.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 74.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 74.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 35.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 4.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 4.
Cited together in Homilies on John Homily 35.