6:55a–b

The events described in this verse occurred over a period of time and involved different groups of people. The people who recognized Jesus (6:54b) hurried to tell others in nearby towns that Jesus had arrived. Those people then told others that Jesus had arrived, until the news spread throughout the whole region. In each place that people heard the news, the people there carried the sick from their village to wherever Jesus was.

6:55a

ran through that whole region: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ran through that means “ran about” or “hurried around.” The people probably did not literally run the entire way. Rather, they hurried or went quickly to the nearby towns and told the people that Jesus had come. From there the news spread to all the towns and villages in that area.

The New Jerusalem Bible has another way to translate this clause:

they started hurrying all through the countryside

6:55b

carrying the sick on mats: People put the sick people on mats in order to carry them to wherever Jesus was.

mats: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mats refers to a stretcher or pallet that was strong enough to use for carrying a person. It would probably be sturdier than the type of woven mat that is used in many places in the world.

This word also occurs in 2:4c.

to wherever they heard He was: Jesus was traveling from place to place and teaching people about the kingdom of God. Whenever people heard that Jesus was in a certain place, they carried their sick people to him.

they heard: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they heard is literally “they were hearing.” It indicates that people kept hearing new reports of where Jesus had gone.

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