{1} Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a {a} pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue {b} Bethesda, having five porches.

(1) There is no disease so old which Christ cannot heal.

(a) Of which cattle drank, and used to be plunged in, since there was a great abundance of water at Jerusalem.

(b) That is to say, the house of pouring out, because a great abundance of water was poured out into that place.

People's New Testament

5:2 There is at Jerusalem... a pool. Its supposed site is still shown, but is uncertain.

Five porches. Shelters for the sick.

Wesley's Notes

5:2 There is in Jerusalem - Hence it appears, that St. John wrote his Gospel before Jerusalem was destroyed: it is supposed about thirty years after the ascension. Having five porticos - Built for the use of the sick. Probably the basin had five sides! Bethesda signifies the house of mercy.

King James Translators' Notes

market: or, gate

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin market a pool

Or, gate, Neh 3:1 12:39

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2, 3. sheep market-The supplement should be (as in Margin) "sheep [gate]," mentioned in Ne 3:1, 32.

Bethesda-that is, "house (place) of mercy," from the cures wrought there.

five porches-for shelter to the patients.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:1-9 We are all by nature impotent folk in spiritual things, blind, halt, and withered; but full provision is made for our cure, if we attend to it. An angel went down, and troubled the water; and what disease soever it was, this water cured it, but only he that first stepped in had benefit. This teaches us to be careful, that we let not a season slip which may never return. The man had lost the use of his limbs thirty-eight years. Shall we, who perhaps for many years have scarcely known what it has been to be a day sick, complain of one wearisome night, when many others, better than we, have scarcely known what it has been to be a day well? Christ singled this one out from the rest. Those long in affliction, may comfort themselves that God keeps account how long. Observe, this man speaks of the unkindness of those about him, without any peevish reflections. As we should be thankful, so we should be patient. Our Lord Jesus cures him, though he neither asked nor thought of it. Arise, and walk. God's command, Turn and live; Make ye a new heart; no more supposes power in us without the grace of God, his distinguishing grace, than this command supposed such power in the impotent man: it was by the power of Christ, and he must have all the glory. What a joyful surprise to the poor cripple, to find himself of a sudden so easy, so strong, so able to help himself! The proof of spiritual cure, is our rising and walking. Has Christ healed our spiritual diseases, let us go wherever he sends us, and take up whatever he lays upon us; and walk before him.