SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:20
¶ Y había unos griegos de los que habían subido a adorar en la Fiesta.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 12:20
Verse 20. Certain Greeks] There are three opinions concerning these: 1. That they were proselytes of the gate or covenant, who came up to worship the true God at this feast. 2. That they were real Jews, who lived in Grecian provinces, and spoke the Greek language. 3. That they were mere Gentiles, who never knew the true God: and hearing of the fame of the temple, or the miracles of our Lord, came to offer sacrifices to Jehovah, and to worship him according to the manner of the people of that land.
This was not an unfrequent case: many of the Gentiles, Romans, and others, were in the habit of sending sacrifices to the temple at Jerusalem.
Of these opinions the reader may choose; but the first seems best founded.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. And there were certain Greeks , etc.] Hellenes, so called, from Hellen, a king of that name, as Pliny says These were not Graecizing Jews, or Jews that dwelt in Greece, and spoke the Greek language; for they were called not Hellenes, but Hellenists; but these were, as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions render it, Gentiles; and were either mere Gentiles, and yet devout and religious men, who were allowed to offer sacrifice, and to worship, in the court of the Gentiles; or they were proselytes, either of righteousness, and so were circumcised, and had a right to eat of the passover, as well as to worship at it; or of the gate, and so being uncircumcised, might not eat of the passover, yet might worship at it; which latter seems to be the case, by what follows: for these were among them, that came up to worship at the feast ; of the passover, which was near at hand: these were among those, that went forth to meet Jesus, and that attended him to Jerusalem, who were come up out of the country to this feast; and these came along with them to worship at it, to offer their sacrifices, and join in prayer, though they might not eat of the passover.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 20-26 - In attendance upon holy ordinances, particularly the gospel passover the great desire of our souls should be to see Jesus; to see him a ours, to keep up communion with him, and derive grace from him. The calling of the Gentiles magnified the Redeemer. A corn of wheat yield no increase unless it is cast into the ground. Thus Christ might have possessed his heavenly glory alone, without becoming man. Or, after he had taken man's nature, he might have entered heaven alone, by his ow perfect righteousness, without suffering or death; but then no sinne of the human race could have been saved. The salvation of soul hitherto, and henceforward to the end of time, is owing to the dying of this Corn of wheat. Let us search whether Christ be in us the hope of glory; let us beg him to make us indifferent to the trifling concern of this life, that we may serve the Lord Jesus with a willing mind, an follow his holy example.
Greek Textus Receptus
ησαν 2258 5713 V-IXI-3P δε 1161 CONJ τινες 5100 X-NPM ελληνες 1672 N-NPM εκ 1537 PREP των 3588 T-GPM αναβαινοντων 305 5723 V-PAP-GPM ινα 2443 CONJ προσκυνησωσιν 4352 5661 V-AAS-3P εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF εορτη 1859 N-DSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. Greeks (%Ellhnev). Gentiles, not Hellenists. See on Acts vi. 1. Jesus comes into contact with the Gentile world at His birth (the Magi) and at the close of His ministry.
