Charles Ellicott Commentary John 1:42

"He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John: thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter)." — John 1:42 (ASV)

Beheld.—See Note on John 1:29.

A Stone.—Better, Peter, as in margin. The word means a stone, but the writer translated for Greek, not for English readers. The rule of the previous verse, which places the Greek word in the text and the English word in the margin, should be followed here.

Cephas.—The word occurs only in this place in the Gospels; elsewhere in the New Testament, only in St. Paul (1 Corinthians and Galatians). Remembering the general significance of Hebrew names, the changes in the Old Testament such as those of Abram, Sarai, and Jacob, and among these first disciples such as James and John (Mark 3:16; Mark 3:18), all these names of Peter seem meant to characterise the man: “You are now Hearer, the Son of Jehovah’s Grace; you shall be called and be a Rock-man.” (Compare to the Note on Matthew 16:17.)