And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.
We had the story of a miracle very like this before, in this gospel (Mar 6:35), and of this same miracle (Mat 15:32), and here is little or no addition or alternation as to the circumstances. Yet observe, 1. That our Lord Jesus was greatly followed; The multitude was very great (Mar 8:1); notwithstanding the wicked arts of the scribes and Pharisees to blemish him...
Commenting on Mark 8:1-9
And they had a few small fishes,.... Which they also acquainted Christ with, and brought out unto him: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. It looks, by this account, as if the fishes were blessed, and brake, and distributed separately, alter the blessing, breaking, and distribution of the bread; and so the Syriac version renders it, "upon whom also he...
And they had a few small fishes - This is not noticed in the parallel place, Mat 15:36.