John Calvin Commentary John 11:18

"Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;" — John 11:18 (ASV)

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem. The Evangelist diligently sets forth everything that contributes to the certainty of the narrative. He relates how near Jerusalem was to the village of Bethany, so that no one might be astonished that, for the purpose of comforting the sisters, many friends came from Jerusalem, whom God intended to be witnesses of the miracle.

For though the desire of performing an act of kindness was their reason for going, yet they were assembled there by a secret decree of God for another purpose: that the resurrection of Lazarus might not remain unknown, or that the witnesses might not be only those who belonged to the family.

Now, it is a convincing proof of the nation's base ingratitude that this striking demonstration of Divine power—at a well-known place, among a vast crowd of people, near the gates of the city, and which could almost be said to have been displayed on a stage—instantly vanishes from people's sight. We should rather say that the Jews, by maliciously shutting their eyes, intentionally do not see what is before their eyes. Nor is it a new or uncommon occurrence that people who, with excessive eagerness, continually seek miracles are altogether dull and stupid when considering them.

About fifteen furlongs. This distance between the two places was somewhat less than two thousand paces or two miles, for the Stadium, or furlong, contains six hundred feet; that is, one hundred and twenty-five paces.