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JOHN 11:19 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 11:18John 11:20
“And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.”
And many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother — the Jewish practice of consolation (similar to sitting shiva) brought many to the home, potentially creating a large number of eyewitnesses to the sign. The presence of 'many Jews' also adds to the potential for witnesses to report the miracle to the authorities, eventually contributing to the decision to kill Jesus (verse 46).

Church Fathers on John 11:19

Our Lord delayed His coming for four days, that the resurrection of Lazarus might be the more glorious: Then when Jesus came, He found that He had lain in the grave four days already.

Alcuin · 8th century

Our Lord had stayed two days, and the messenger had come the day before; the very day on which Lazarus died. This brings us to the fourth day.

Chrysostom · 4th century

Of the four days many things may be said. They refer to one thing, but one thing viewed in different ways. There is one day of death which the law of our birth brings upon us. Men transgress the natural law, and this is another day of death. The written law is given to men by the hands of Moses, and that is despised - a third day of death. The Gospel comes, and men transgress it - a fourth day of death. But Christ cloth not disdain to awaken even these.

Augustine · 4th century
Read all 21 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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