“Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.”
King James Version (KJV)
12:20 Certain Greeks - A prelude of the Gentile Church. That these were circumcised does not appear. But they came up on purpose to worship the God of Israel.
12:21 These came to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee - Perhaps they used to lodge there, in their journey to Jerusalem. Or they might believe, a Galilean would be more ready to serve them herein, than a Jew. Sir - They spake to him, as to one they were little acquainted with. We would see Jesus - A modest request. They could scarce expect that he would now have time to talk with them.
12:23 The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified - With the Father and in the sight of every creature. But he must suffer first.
12:24 Unless a grain of wheat die - The late resurrection of Lazarus gave our Lord a natural occasion of speaking on this subject. And agreeable to his infinite knowledge, he singles out, from among so many thousands of seeds, almost the only one that dies in the earth: and which therefore was an exceeding proper similitude, peculiarly adapted to the purpose for which he uses it. The like is not to be found in any other grain, except millet, and the large bean.
Joh 12:22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew. Andrew was also of Bethsaida (Joh 1:44 12:21), and he and Philip seem to have been inseparable friends.