After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
All Commentaries on John 7:1 Go To John 7
Theophilus of Antioch
AD 184
He withdrew too now to Galilee, because the hour of His passion was not yet come; and He thought it useless to stay in the midst of His enemies, when the effect would only have been to irritate them the more. The time at which this happened is then given; Now the Jews; feast of tabernacles was at hand.
His brethren saw that He was not preparing to go to the feast: His brethren therefore said to him, Depart hence, and go into Judea.
i.e. the multitudes that follow You. They do not mean the twelve, but the others that had communication with Him.
Our Lord brings two arguments in answer to their two charges. To the charge of fear He answers, that He reproves the deeds of the world, i.e. of those who love worldly things; which He would not do, if He were under the influence offear; and He replies to the charge of vain glory, by sending them to the feast, Go you up to this feast. Had He been possessed at all with the desire for glory, He would have kept them with Him: for the vain glorious like to have many followers.
