Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 7:13

"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they?" — Revelation 7:13 (ASV)

And one of the elders. (See Barnes on Revelation 4:4).

That is, as understood there, one of the representatives of the church before the throne.

Answered. The word answer, for us, means to reply to something that has been said. In the Bible, however, the word is often used at the beginning of a speech where nothing has been said—as if it were a reply to something that might be said on the subject, or to something that is passing through another person's mind, or to something in the case under consideration that suggests an inquiry. (Daniel 2:26; Acts 5:8).

Thus it is used here. John was looking at the host and reflecting on the state of things; and to the train of thought passing through his mind, the angel answered with an inquiry about a part of that host. Professor Stuart renders it accosted me.

What are these which are arrayed in white robes? Who are these? The object evidently is to bring the case of these persons more particularly into view. The vast host with branches of palm had attracted John's attention, but it was the speaker's object to turn his thoughts to a particular part of the host—the martyrs who stood among them.

He would seem, therefore, to have turned to a particular portion of the immense multitude of the redeemed, and by an emphasis on the word these—"Who are these?"—to have focused attention on them. All those who are before the throne are represented as clothed in white robes (Revelation 7:9), but attention might be directed to a particular part of them as grouped together and as having something peculiar in their position or appearance.

There was a propriety in thus directing John's mind to the martyrs as triumphing in heaven, at a time when the churches were suffering persecution, and in view of the vision he had of times of darkness and calamity coming upon the world at the opening of the sixth seal. Beyond all the scenes of sorrow and grief, he was permitted to see the martyrs triumphing in heaven.

Arrayed in white robes. (See Barnes on Revelation 7:9).

And whence came they? The object is to focus attention more distinctly on what is said of them: that they came up out of great tribulation.