Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 6:7

"Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings` worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little." — John 6:7 (ASV)

Philip’s reply shows that while he had a practical turn of mind, he was rather unimaginative. His calculation of “eight months’ wages,” however accurate, were futile, for he could only produce statistics to show what could not be done. No doubt none of the disciples would have enough money to purchase food for this crowd of approximately ten thousand persons, including women and children (Matthew 14:21).