John Calvin Commentary John 1:44

"Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter." — John 1:44 (ASV)

Was of Bethsaida. The name of the city appears to have been mentioned intentionally, so that the goodness of God to the three Apostles may be more illustriously displayed. We know how severely, on other occasions, Christ threatens and curses that city (Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13). Accordingly, when God brought some from a nation so ungodly and wicked into His favor, we ought to view it as if they had been brought out of the lowest hell. And when Christ, after drawing them out of that deep gulf, honors them so highly as to make them Apostles, it is a distinguished favor and worthy of being recorded.