The people who sat in darkness saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.
All Commentaries on Matthew 4:16 Go To Matthew 4
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Then implying that they did not of themselves seek and find, but that God showed Himself to them from above, he says to them, Light is sprung up; that is, the light of itself sprang up and shone forth: it was not that they first ran to the light. For in truth the condition of men was at the worst before Christ's coming. Since they more than walked in darkness; they sat in darkness; a kind of sign that they did not even hope to be delivered. For as persons not even knowing where to put a step forward, so they sat, overtaken by the darkness, not being able so much as to stand any more.
