John Calvin 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)

Two hundred denarii. According to the calculation of Budaeus, the denarius is equal to four times the value of a carolus and two deniers of Tours. This sum therefore amounts to thirty-five francs, or approximately that much.

If this sum were divided among five thousand men, each hundred of them would receive less than seventeen pence sterling. If we then include an estimated thousand women and children, it is found that Philip allots to each person only about the sixth part of an English penny, to buy a little bread.

Furthermore, as commonly happens with large crowds, Philip likely overestimated the number of people present. And since the disciples were poor and had little money, Andrew’s intention was to alarm Christ with the magnitude of the sum needed, implying that they were not wealthy enough to provide for so many people.