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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
Two miles. This is mentioned to account for so many coming from Jerusalem: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. But how could the Jews be consoling the beloved of Christ, when they had resolved that whoever confessed Christ should be put out of the synagogue? Perhaps the extreme affliction of the sisters excited their sympathy; or they wished to show respect for their rank. Or perhaps they who came were of the better sort; as we find many of them believed. …
Cyril of Alexandria
He mentions also the length of days that had intervened after the death of Lazarus for this reason, that the miracle may be the more marvelled at, and lest any one should chance to say that He had come after one day, and that Lazarus was not dead, but He had raised him up from sickness. And he says that many Jews were in Bethany, although the place was not a populous one, being come out of Jerusalem; for the distance of road between the two places was not so great as to hinder their sincere friends from being with Martha and Mary. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Bethany was about fifteen stadia from Jerusalem. Why does the evangelist add this detail? In order to show that many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem indeed came, for Bethany was not far away.
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
1508 Next we are told what favored the presence of the visitors and how many there were. Their presence was facilitated due to the fact that the deceased was near Jerusalem; the Evangelist says, Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles [fifteen stadia] off. This was almost two miles, because a mile contains eight stadia. Thus it was easy for many of the Jews to go there from Jerusalem. …
Bonaventure
Now Bethany was. Here the last point is touched upon, namely the convenience of the place. For because it was near Jerusalem, many Jews had come who would be witnesses of the miracle. The reason, moreover, why they had come was the convenience or proximity of the place. On account of the convenience he says: Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away. A stadium is the eighth part of a mile, and thus the place was nearby.
Alcuin of York
The first sin was elation of heart, the second assent, the third act, the fourth habit. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.
Translation