They knew him - They "recollected" Jesus, because he had been there before and worked miracles.

They knew him - Επιγνοντες, They recollected him; for he had before preached and wrought miracles in different places of the same country.

And when they were come out of the ship,.... Christ and his disciples, and were ashore,

straightway they knew him; that is, the men of that place, as in Mat_. 14:35; see Gill on Matthew 14:35; and so the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read here, "the inhabitants of that country", the country of Gennesaret; they knew him, having seen and heard him before.

{8} And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

(8) Christ being rejected in his own country, and suddenly arriving to those who had not looked for him, is received to their great profit.

54. And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him-"immediately they recognized Him"; that is, the people did.

6:45-56 The church is often like a ship at sea, tossed with tempests, and not comforted: we may have Christ for us, yet wind and tide against us; but it is a comfort to Christ's disciples in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly mount, interceding for them. And no difficulties can hinder Christ's appearance for his people, when the set time is come. He silenced their fears, by making himself known to them. Our fears are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially our mistakes as to Christ. Let the disciples have their Master with them, and all is well. It is for want of rightly understanding Christ's former works, that we view his present works as if there never were the like before. If Christ's ministers now could cure people's bodily diseases, what multitudes would flock after them! It is sad to think how much more most care about their bodies than about their souls.