The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
Parallel translations
- WEB On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
- BSB The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
- NKJV The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
- NASB The next day He decided to go to Galilee, and He *found Philip. And Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me.”
- NLT The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Heading to Galilee, Jesus finds Philip and calls him with the words 'Follow me.' Jesus takes the initiative in summoning His disciples.
Overview
Whereas earlier disciples came via others' testimony, here Jesus directly seeks out and calls Philip. The simple command 'Follow me' is the heart of discipleship — a call to allegiance and a shared life with Christ. The verse shows both human witness and Christ's sovereign initiative at work in gathering His followers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 9:9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
- John 14:8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
- Isa 65:1I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
- John 12:21The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
- Matt 4:18–21And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
- Phil 3:12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
- John 6:5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
- 1 Jn 4:19We love him, because he first loved us.
- Luke 19:10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- John 1:28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
- Matt 10:3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
- John 1:35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
- John 6:7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Pastoral
Henry on the prologue — rich on the Word and the incarnation.
Seminary
- ★ Start hereCommentaryThe Gospel According to John (Pillar NT Commentary)D. A. Carson · ~720 pp · Paid · reformed
The go-to mid-level exegetical commentary on John — rigorous and readable.
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 1:43 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.