Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
      (4.) Christ hereupon raises the hopes and expectations of Nathanael to something further and greater than all this, John 1:50; John 1:51. Christ is very tender of young converts, and will encourage good beginnings, though weak, Matthew 12:20.