John Gill Commentary John 1:44

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

Now Philip was of Bethsaida
A town on the lake of Gennesaret, afterwards made a city by Philip the tetrarch, and called Julias, after the name of Caesar's daughter ^F13 : it was a fishing town, and had its name from which; and the disciples that were of it, were of this business:

the city of Andrew and Peter ;
or "Simon", as read the Syriac and Persic versions: three apostles were called out of this place, as mean, and wicked, as it was; see (Matthew 11:21) ; which was no small honour to it: it is a saying of the Jews ^F14 , that "a man's place (his native place) does not honour him, but a man honours his place." This was the case here.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F13: Joseph. Antiqu. l. 18. c. 3.
• F14: T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 21. 2.