John 6:16-17 - Exposition

Now when it became evening. This must have been the "second evening;" for the miracle itself was said to he wrought when the day began to decline ( Matthew 14:15 ; Luke 9:12 ). The first evening ( ὀψία ) lasted from three to six p.m., the "second evening" stretched from sundown to darkness ( σκοτία ). The night was drawing on. His disciples went down from the higher ground or grassy slopes to the sea ( ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν ), and having embarked in a ship, they were making for the other side of the sea to Capernaum; or as Mark ( Mark 6:45 ) says, "towards Bethsaida." This occasions no difficulty to those who remember that there were two Bethsaidas—one, "Bethsaida Julias, " on the northeastern end of the lake; and the other near to Capernaum, called "Bethsaida of Galilee ."" The two towns were so near that the latter Bethsaida might reasonably he regarded as the port of Capernaum.