means the multitude, or some of them, whom Jesus had fed on tlie north-east shore of the lake, and whom the disciples had L ft standing near the banks when they embarked, belore our Lord sent them away. Matthew and Mark both mention that our Lord first made the disciples embark, and then sent the mul- titude away, and retired to the mountain to pray.
20. — [Howheit there came other boats, etc.] This verse either means that other boats came froai Tiberias the morning after the mira- cle of feeding the multitude, which were not there the evening that the disciples embarked ; or else it means that there were other boats from Tiberias not far from the place where the mini- cle was worked, though there were none actually at the spot where the disciples embarked, except their one boat. The verse is carefully inserted parenthetically, in order to account for the multitude following our Lord to Capernaum. Had it not been inserted, the infidel would have asked us tri- umphantly, to exp'ain how the people could have followed our Lord, when they had no boats ! We need not doubt that every apparent discrepancy and difficulty in the Gospel narrative would equally admit of explanation, if we only knew how to fill up the
[After that the Lord had given thanks.] This is purposely inserted to remind us that it was no common eating of bread that had taken place, but an eating of food miraculously multi- plied after our Lord had blessed it.
24. — [ When the people.] There is no occasion to suppose that this expression means the whole five thousand, whom our Lord had fed. Eor one thing, we are distinctly told that our Lord *' sent them away," and the greater part probably dispeised, and went their way to their homes, or to Jerusalem to the passover. For another thing, it is absurd to suppose that so large a multi- tude could find boats enough to convey them across the lake. It evidently means the remaining portion of the multitude, and probably included many who followed our Lord about from place to place wherever He went in Gralilee, without any spiritual feehng, from a vague love of excitement, and in the hope of ultimately getting something by it.
[They also took shipping.] This means that they embarked in the boats which came from Tiberias, and cros-ed over the lake, 211. — [And when they found Him on the other side of the sea.] The place where they found our Lord was on the north-west side of the lake of Galilee, on the opposite side from that where the miracle of feeding the multitude was wrought. The precise spot however where they found Him is a point which it is not very easy to decide.— Of course if we read the discourse which