John 6:23

Howbeit. This verse is intended to explain the source of the boats the people had used to cross the lake the morning after the miracle (see v. 24), for its time element is indicated by the words, “the day following” (v. 22). It is not to be understood as occurring on the previous day when the disciples had left without Jesus, and thus as implying that He might have found passage on the ships from Tiberias.

Boats from Tiberias. See on v. 1. These may have been fishing craft that had been out on the lake during the night (see ch. 21:3) and had been blown to shore by the storm.

After. The time element of the phrase, “after that the Lord had given thanks” refers to the time when the people ate, not to the coming of the boats from Tiberias, which did not occur until the following day.

Had given thanks. John’s specific mention here that the people ate “after that the Lord had given thanks” adds emphasis to the thought that Jesus’ miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand was the direct result of His prayer, and thus that the miracle was the work of the Father mediated through Him. See on v. 11.