Tractates on the Gospel of John

¹⁰ The man did this, and the Jews were offended. For they saw a man carrying his bed on the Sabbath day, and they did not blame the Lord for healing him on the Sabbath, that He should be able to answer them, that if any of them had a beast fallen into a well, he would surely draw it out on the Sabbath day, and save his beast; and so, now they did not object to Him that a man was made whole on the Sabbath day, but that the man was carrying his bed. But if the healing was not to be deferred, should a work also have been commanded? “It is not lawful for you,” say they, to do what you are doing, “to take up your bed.” And he, in defence, put the author of his healing before his censors, saying, “He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up your bed, and walk.” Should I not take injunction from him from whom I received healing? And they said, “Who is the man that said unto you, Take up your bed, and walk?”