The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:43–51)
Exceeding swift was the disciple in bearing fruit, that hereby he might show himself akin in disposition to them that had preceded. For he finds Nathanael, not simply meeting him coming along, but making a diligent search for him. For he knew that he was most painstaking and fond of learning. Then he says that he had found the Christ Who was heralded through all the Divine Scripture, addressing himself not as to one ignorant, but as to one exceedingly well instructed in the learning both of all-wise Moses and of the prophets. For an untrue supposition was prevailing among the Jews regarding our Savior Jesus Christ, that He should be of the city or village of Nazareth, albeit the Divine Scripture says that He is a Bethlehemite, as far as pertains to this. And you, Bethlehem, it says, in the land of Judah, house of Ephrata, are little to be among the thousands of Judah, for out of you shall He come forth unto Me That is to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. For He was brought up in Nazareth, as the Evangelist himself too somewhere testified, saying, And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up [Lk 4:16]; but He was not from there, but where we said before, yea rather, as the voice of the prophet affirmed. Philip, therefore, following the supposition of the Jews says, Jesus of Nazareth.
Nathanael readily agrees that something great and most fair is that which is expected to appear out of Nazareth.* It is, I suppose, perfectly clear, that not only did he take Nazareth as a pledge of that which he sought, but bringing together knowledge from the law and Prophets, as one fond of learning he gained swift understanding.
Sight will suffice for faith, says [Philip], and having only conversed with Him you will confess more readily, and will unhesitatingly say that He is indeed the Expected One. But we must believe that there was a Divine and Ineffable grace, flowing forth with the words of the Savior, and alluring the souls of the hearers. For so it is written, that all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His Mouth [Lk 4:22]. For as His word is mighty in power, so too is it efficacious to persuade.
Not having yet used proof by means of signs, Christ endeavored in another way to persuade both His own disciples, and the wiser of those that came to Him, that He was by Nature Son and God, but for the salvation of all was come in human form. What then was the mode that led to faith? God-befitting knowledge. For the knowledge of all things befits God Alone. Therefore, he receives Nathanael, not hurrying him by flatteries to this state, but by those things whereof he was conscious, giving him a pledge, that he knows the hearts, as God.…
He knows that God Alone is Searcher of hearts, and gives to none other of men to understand the mind, considering as is likely that verse in the Psalms, God tries the hearts and reins [Ps 7:9]. For as accruing to none else, the Psalmist has attributed this too as peculiar to the Divine Nature only. When then he knew that the Lord saw his thoughts revolving in his mind in yet voiceless whispers, straightway he calls Him Master, readily entering already into discipleship under Him, and confesses Him Son of God and King of Israel, in Whom are inexistent the Properties of Divinity, and as one well instructed he affirms Him to be wholly and by Nature God.
Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel according to St. John 2.1
* As if Cyril read, not as a question but affirmatively, “Out of Nazareth can something good come.”
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